poor impulse control
Unthinking snap decisions
Poor impulse control is the tendency to act on urges without considering consequences.
Someone with poor impulse control might blurt out hurtful comments, make impulsive purchases, or reach for another drink despite knowing better.
The phrase appears in psychology and everyday speech alike: The defendant's poor impulse control was cited as a mitigating factor.
It suggests behavior driven by immediate desire rather than judgment.
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- spur of the momentDone without prior planning
- snapSudden sharp sound
- knee jerkInvoluntary leg response
urge · temptation · heat of the moment · regret · blurt · no filter · splurge · binge · outburst · rash · spontaneous · careless · thoughtless · hotheaded · short fuse · anger management · impatient · restless
- impulsivityimpulsivity, rashness, recklessness, hastiness, impetuosity
- skill deficiencyincompetence, ineptitude, clumsiness, awkwardness, inexperience
- behavior problemsaggression, defiance, tantrums, bullying, hitting
- psychopathypsychopathy, sociopathy, lack of empathy, superficial charm, pathological lying
poor impulse controlself-control
Ability to restrain impulses
impulse control · self-discipline · self-restraint · willpower · self-regulation
poor impulse controldeliberation
Careful weighing of choices
thoughtfulness · prudence · circumspection · measured response · judiciousness
poor impulse controldelayed gratification
Postponing pleasure for benefit
patience · emotional regulation · equanimity · composure · stoicism
poorer, poorest, poorly, poorness, impoverished, impoverishment, impulse, impulses, impulsive