knee jerk reaction

[Tregg Smith]

What is the official medical term for this? I know there is one. Anybody care to explain it further?

[Metaleer]

Patellar reflex (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patellar_reflex), apparently.

[Tregg Smith]

Patellar reflex (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patellar_reflex), apparently.

There is a name other than this that refers to the psychological connection. A knee jerk reaction can happen in response to a statement someone makes that conflicts with a person's strong belief or feeling on a certain topic. It must be a supressed take action kind of response.

[nismaratwork]

There is a name other than this that refers to the psychological connection. A knee jerk reaction can happen in response to a statement someone makes that conflicts with a person's strong belief or feeling on a certain topic. It must be a supressed take action kind of response.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-knee-jerk-reaction.htm

AFAIK if you're speaking casually, "knee-jerk" is a good term, and if speaking clinically you speak in terms of impulse control and executive function.