In humans or animals is there more than one instinct or is it just survival of the species?

Question

Im s: Reason and insanity are also survival mechanisms. Insanity is a coping mechanism for survival of the individual; when the conscious and unconscious mind are unable to cope with reality.

Answer 1

Well there are a number of instincts, but survival of the species is the underlying one.

Answer 2

I believe that we all have survival instincts and instincts to exist from one day to the next. It's developed over the ages and passed on from our parents as in a cyclical basis. In lower formed creatures in the animal kingdom, it is more of the survival of the fittest because predators always bring down and destroy the weakest links as their prey. Humans are more cautious and fortunately more intelligent.

Answer 3

Survival !  The root instinct, as some above me have put it, Mmm,, This is not so !. Every species has its time on earth and dies out, or becomes extinct, call it what you will, that means even the fittest will become extinct one day. survival of the fittest only applies to species who are serving their allotted time on earth within the eco-system, Evolution as I see it, does not jump from a species to form another species, it just does not happen.

Answer 4

in animals its instinct, in humans ? its the one who dies with the most toys wins

Answer 5

overall it should our own human instinct and the animal instinct both very different the way we both live on this Earth. maybe there can be more than just one instinct some many. it is possible. i like your question. it is a very good one. peace

there is no survival between our race and animals would be hard to say who would outlive who when you never know when this whole planet could just go extinct. just like the dinosaurs like a long long time ago. thanks

Answer 6

There is no instinct for " survival of the species " in any animal. Selection is an individual matter and the coin selection pays in is reproductive success of individual organisms. The are many instincts, in both humans and animals. Too many to list here. William James once said of language, " an instinct to acquire an art ", which shows you not to oppose instinct with learning.

Answer 7

I think that in both humans and animals the MAIN instinct is, of course, survival.  Humans should have other instincts, as well....such as:  saving the planet, preventing wars and other acts of violence, and trying to work together to make this world a better place for all.

Answer 8

I think theirs a lot of instincts, like when a baby is born it knows automatically who it's mother is. And the instinct on how to eat. You don't really have to teach people how to chew, it's natural once you have teeth. There is also the instinct a mother has to protect their child. And some say that if a mother child is in a certain danger where she has to use strength, she has like, super strength. that's Natural too.

Answer 9

Animals of all sorts are very complex organisms.  I'm not really sure what it is exactly you're trying to ask.  Instincts range from protection to aggression to certain behaviors, to knowing how to take care of young... and so on and so on and so on...

Answer 10

You've seen the proof. We know altruism, benevolence, morality, sacrifice, welfare states. They could be guided partly by the instinct of survival, but it's not (I hope, at least) the entire explanation.

Some people think that all things, directions of thought, and emotions are guided by the instinct to survive. Parents need children to rely on, childrearing is an ages-long instinct to propagate the species, culture is necessary to provide for the high level of the human mind and a mere expression and testament of that high status. We can answer to "If survival is the only instinct that guides us, why do we not respond to the same things and situatins similarly?" by explaining away diversity as necessary for survival- all things, having and supporting in the end, survival.

But if we follow such lines of reasoning, how can we explain environmental damage, which would ultimately have dire consequences for our survival? How can we account for the hovering possibility of nuclear warfare, of warfare of any kind, which would threaten both sides? How can we explain for folly that a goal, an instinct, of survival cannot support and should not allow for?

  

Other forces are at work. We have reason and unreason to prove it.

Answer 11

Survival...

Which manifests as the search for:

Food

Clothing

Shelter

(The comforts)

in that order!

When these are established, the next instinct is Reproduction, which is more Paternal, but the resulting newborn is succesfully nurtured into adulthood, by Maternal Instinct...

Though the Paternal Instinct includes the element of protection during the pregnancy, and after as well...

Answer 12

While any scientist worth her/his salt will tell you there are many instincts in animals/humans they will also tell you "survival" is the root instinct.