Im shure the time delay is an indicator if an action is more or less concious.javascript: void(0)

Trained and often repeated actions: automized. (or instinctive)
Newel, potentially dangerous or important actions: concious (they get thought over more)
Until this actions receives enough training to be done automatically.

For example, reading a newspaper upside down takes longer (rotating the image mentally) But if you learned to read it like this,
or trained it long, you can read the newspaper flawlessly fast this way.

Or in your explanation, the soul (conscious decision i call it) can overrule
the instinctive action, if one values that.
Even when you are born as an impulsive brute, you could control it.
If you dont, then you obviously dont value it high enough,
thats where the punishment (rightfully) steps in.

I think the tourett syndrome is one, where the person is not willingly able
to suppress instinctive quick reactions, even if they want.
Thats why they swear easily or make sudden moves.
I think if you could supress this inhibitory function in a normal person, he would
act the same.
But thats a rare condition, an not an adopted excuse for some psychopath killing people.