15世纪早期，impulsif，最初指用于医学上减少肿胀或体液的，来自中世纪拉丁语 impulsivus，源自拉丁语 impuls-，impellere 的过去分词词干，意为“撞击、推撞”（参见 impel）。
“具有推动性质”（力量、原因、能量等）的意思来自约1600年。对于人而言，“鲁莽，具有冲动特征”，始于1847年，来自 impulse。早期至少一次是指疯狂者：
The impulsive insane are often irritable, restless and jealous. Sometimes they have delusions, and sometimes not. Their delusions frequently seem to have no connection with their outbreaks of violence. They are often the best and at the same time the most dangerous class of patients in the asylums. They have little of the charity of the world, are most likely to be punished for their offences, and yet have the least control over their conduct. ["Impulsive and Homicidal Insanity," Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, April 19, 1843]
冲动的疯狂者常常易怒、不安和嫉妒。有时他们会有幻觉，有时则没有。他们的幻觉常常似乎与他们的暴力行为没有关联。他们常常是精神病院中 最佳 同时也是 最危险 的患者类别。他们对世界的慈悲很少，最有可能因其罪行受到惩罚，却对自己的行为控制最少。[“冲动与杀人狂精神病”，《波士顿医学与外科杂志》，1843年4月19日]
