compulsion

(kəm-pŭlˈshən)

1. a. The act of compelling.
   b. The state of being compelled.
2. a. An irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation: “The compulsion to protect the powerful from the discomfort of public disclosure feeds further abuse and neglect” (Boston Globe).
   b. An act or acts performed in response to such an impulse.