irresistible impulse

irresistible impulse
an impulse to commit a criminal act that cannot be resisted because mental disease has destroyed the person's freedom of will and power to choose between right and wrong. The “irresistible impulse test” that a person is not criminally responsible if the act was due to an irresistible impulse is still used in some states.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • irresistible impulse — ir·re·sis·ti·ble im·pulse /ˌir rə zis tə bəl / n: an overpowering impulse produced by mental disease or defect that leads to the commission of a criminal act (as murder) Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. irresistible …   Law dictionary

  • Irresistible impulse — In criminal law, irresistible impulse is a defense by excuse, in this case some sort of insanity, in which the defendant argues that they should not be held criminally liable for their actions that broke the law, because they could not control… …   Wikipedia

  • irresistible impulse — As used as insanity defense, an irresistible impulse means an impulse to commit an unlawful or criminal act which cannot be resisted or overcome because mental disease has destroyed the freedom of will, the power of self control, and the choice… …   Black's law dictionary

  • irresistible impulse — As used as insanity defense, an irresistible impulse means an impulse to commit an unlawful or criminal act which cannot be resisted or overcome because mental disease has destroyed the freedom of will, the power of self control, and the choice… …   Black's law dictionary

  • irresistible impulse — A form of insanity, frequently termed impulsive insanity, by which a person is irresistibly impelled to the commission of an act, for example, the killing of a person. 29 Am J Rev ed Ins Per § 3. A product of mental insanity, as distinguished… …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • irresistible impulse test — n: a test used in some jurisdictions when considering an insanity defense that involves a determination of whether an impulse to commit a criminal act was irresistible due to mental disease or defect regardless of whether the defendant knew right …   Law dictionary

  • irresistible impulse — noun an urge to do or say something that might be better left undone or unsaid he felt a compulsion to babble on about the accident • Syn: ↑compulsion • Derivationally related forms: ↑compulsive (for: ↑compulsion) …   Useful english dictionary

  • irresistible impulse test — see under impulse …   Medical dictionary

  • irresistible impulse — overpowering urge, irrepressible drive, powerful instinct …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Impulse (disambiguation) — Impulse, in mechanics, is something that changes the momentum of an object.Impulse may also mean:In psychology*Impulse (psychology), a wish or urge, particularly a sudden one.In law* Irresistible impulse, a defense by excuse in which the… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”