Do human beings have instincts?

Question

Salmon who "know" how to navigate from the ocean to their place of birth to spawn are driven there by instinct.

Do humans show complex, clearly defined, predictable patterns of behavior that are universal to the species? If so, what are they, and how can they fit the true definition of what an instinct is?

I ask this question because there is a debate regarding the existence (or non existence) of human instinct going on in another forum. Just looking for input here!

Thanks!

Answer 1

Some sociobiologists and ethologists have attempted to comprehend human and animal social behavior in terms of instincts. Psychoanalysts have stated that instinct refers to human motivational forces (such as s*x and aggression), sometimes represented as life instinct and death instinct. This use of the term motivational forces has mainly been replaced by the term instinctual drives.

Instincts in humans can also be seen in what are called instinctive reflexes. Reflexes, such as the Babinski Reflex (fanning of the toes when foot is stroked), are seen in babies and are indicative of stages of development. These reflexes can truly be considered instinctive because they are generally free of environmental influences or conditioning.

Additional human traits that have been looked at as instincts are: sleeping, altruism, disgust, face perception, language acquisitions, "fight or flight" and "subjugate or be subjugated". Some experiments in human and primate societies have also come to the conclusion that a sense of fairness could be considered instinctual, with humans and apes willing to harm their own interests in protesting unfair treatment of self or others.[1][2]

Other sociologists argue that humans have no instincts, defining them as a "complex pattern of behavior present in every specimen of a particular species, that is innate, and that cannot be overridden." Said sociologists argue that drives such as s*x and hunger cannot be considered instincts, as they can be overridden. This definitory argument is present in many introductory sociology and biology textbooks,[3] but is still hotly debated.

Answer 2

i have an instinct to run to my bed when i am in pain. i have had this since i can remember. did not even know i was doing it till it was pointed out to me. other people have told me similar things.

i have a newborn baby, she has many instincts, but if she still has them as a child or an adult then she probably has autism.

but that man is true, one instinct most people keep till adulthood is the orienting response, turning to a strange sound.  all mammals got that one.

Answer 3

If you are looking for scientific input, Tera, you are looking in the wrong place. There is no dichotomy between what is physical and what is psychological; that is property dualism and refuted by neurology. I suggest you go to biology for a coherent answer. I read nothing but equivocation in that " studies " article. We are well past that empirically.

http://www.actionbioscience.org ( click on evolution and genomics )

Also this.( thing will not load )

http://www.nel.edu

/21_6?NEL21062000X001_Klien_.pdf

Answer 4

I believe so- contray to my earlier belief that everything we do from the first moments of talking and walking to the way we act- is all from people, that maybe be so.

But I do believe somewhere inside of us there is instinct- impulse- where everything works out. If we lived fully from this-life would be perfect. But we all are human so we make mistakes to once in a while see cracks of our inner- being and self. It's hard to explain into words but- we need to learn to live the same way we learned to breathe.

Answer 5

It is instinctive to turn your head towards a noise or something that is touching you-the Babinski reflex, I believe.

Babies, when started curl up in a ball and then throw their limbs out.

It is an instinct for babies to cry.

It is instinctive to suck on a breast for milk-they automatically go to it.

There are many, many instincts that humans are born with. It has been proven by many scientists in many studies-any psychology textbook will have this basic information in it.

Answer 6

humans, like ALL life-forms (bacteria, plants, animals) have the survival instinct.

we are attracted to beautiful people cos they look healthy & will therefore create strong healthy children (eg. men with broad shoulders instead of scrawny sickly men are more attractive)

we are all for advancing our career so we can bring more bacon home

Answer 7

I had started to write a long answer here about what instincts are and the debate on whether or not humans have any.  Then I read this article:

http://www.gem.greenwood.com/wse/wseDisp...

It discusses popular culture and the wide acceptance of the concept of "maternal bonding."  It also explains the difficulty of studying the question ethically.

EDIT:  Jon, thank you for the link; I'm looking forward to exploring it in detail (which might take a really long time.)  I did note that the article I posted was dated but it seemed to answer the question.

To go a little further here, I do think that humans being animals, it stands to reason that there would be human instincts.

Answer 8

i don't believe so. there are too many inconsistencies and too many women/men who do not have them. there are no universal instincts except our desire to survive.

"maternal instincts" are actually the fruits of bonding, which doesn't come until after your child is born, and sadly, does not come for every woman who bears a child.

Answer 9

maternal instincts?

Answer 10

WE, instinctively are not at home with poverty, disease, violence or chaos SIMPLY because it's NOT our nature! GOD is none of this either! And ye are gods, act, speak, think and live like one, and all will be revealed!!! BE PERFECT for the Father is perfect!