The Primal Urge

{{Short description|1961 novel by Brian Aldiss}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox book |

| name = The Primal Urge

| title_orig =

| translator =

| image = Primal urge.jpg

| caption = Richard M. Powers

| author = Brian Aldiss

| illustrator =

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| country = United States

| language = English

| series =

| genre = Science fiction novel

| publisher = Ballantine Books

| release_date = 1961

| english_release_date =

| media_type = Print (Paperback)

| pages = 191 pp

| preceded_by =

| followed_by =

}}

The Primal Urge is a 1961 science fiction novel by Brian Aldiss. A satire on sexual reserve, it explores the effects on society of a forehead-mounted "Emotion Register" that glows when the wearer experiences sexual attraction. The book was banned in Ireland.