counterimpulse

English

Etymology

From counter- +‎ impulse.

Noun

counterimpulse (plural counterimpulses)

1. An impulse that runs counter to another impulse.
   • 1921, Psyche and Eros‎^[1]:

     If the presence of a counterimpulse were sufficient to determine a mistake all of us should and would be constantly making mistakes.

   • 1982, Introducing Psychoanalytic Theory‎^[2], page 119:

     In the conflict theory, there is an impulse or a motive, and an opposing counterimpulse or countermotive.

   • 1988 November 11, Andrew Goodwin, “Reading: The Cultural Crash of '89”, in Chicago Reader:

     This counterimpulse tends to embrace everything difficult and European with juvenile zeal.