Psychological Impulse
A psychological impulse is defined as a strong, sudden, and immediate internal urge to act that arises spontaneously in response to specific stimuli. It represents a powerful, persistent force that often coexists with a state of emotional conflict and drives behavioral execution before rational cognitive constraints intervene (D. W. Rook, 1987). From a neurodevelopmental perspective, a psychological impulse is a rapid conative response triggered within emotional regulation networks, characterized by the execution of a behavioral action without prior conscious deliberation, planning, or consideration of long-term outcomes (J. H. Daruna & P. A. Barnes, 1993). An impulse is an immediate cognitive, emotional, or behavioral reaction intimately linked to intense affective states. It operates through the mechanisms of positive or negative urgency, directly challenging individual self-regulation, cognitive control, and dynamic choice-making pathways (G. T. Smith & M. A. Cyders, 2016).
Rook, D. W. (1987). The Buying Impulse. Journal of Consumer Research, 14(2), 189–199. https://doi.org/10.1086/209105.
Daruna, J. H., & Barnes, P. A. (1993). A neurodevelopmental view of impulsivity. The Impulsive Client: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 23–37. https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.11.1.12.
Smith, G. T., & Cyders, M. A. (2016). Integrating affect and impulsivity: The role of positive and negative urgency. Drug and Alcohol Dependence,163(1), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.03.003.