irresistible impulse
Compulsion beyond willpower
Irresistible impulse is a legal term for an urge so overwhelming that a person cannot control their actions, even knowing them to be wrong.
It appears in some insanity defenses: the defendant may have understood the crime was illegal but claims they were powerless to stop themselves.
The defense argued irresistible impulse, saying he knew it was wrong but couldn't resist.
- irresistibilityQuality defying refusal
- heat of passionIntense temporary emotional disturbance
- needEssential requirement
- urgeStrong inner drive
- crimePunishable illegal act
can't help it · temptation · automatism · uncontrollable · drive · lose control · law · mens rea · diminished capacity · overpowering · kleptomania · intensity · snap judgment · mental disorder · defense · insanity defense · not guilty by reason of · fixation
- criminal defensesinsanity plea, insanity defense, legal insanity, diminished capacity, mental incapacity
irresistible impulseself-control
Ability to restrain impulses
restraint · willpower · self-restraint · inhibition · self-discipline
irresistible impulsedeliberate choice
Decision made on purpose
forethought · strategic thinking · conscious decision · premeditation · conscious choice
irresistible, impulse, resist, resistant, resistance, resistor, resistible, irresistibly, resisting