The Role of Survival Instinct in Shaping Human Behavior
When have you felt your survival instinct direct your behavior?
Keith,
The question of when our survival instinct takes over and how it influences our actions is both intriguing and complex. In situations that threaten immediate danger, such as when a bushfire is a threat to a home, our survival instinct often becomes the primary driver of our behavior. It is a primal response that can push us to take actions that may seem extreme but are necessary for survival.
When Does a Feeling Become a Thought?
The query about when a feeling transforms into a thought is another layer to this complexity. Are instinctive actions during crises identical to our innate instincts? Can one's sixth sense be seen as a combination of sensory inputs, or is it something more? Often, when discomfort sets in, I instinctively react without overthinking the situation. My actions are guided by a sense of urgency and preservation, making me 'go with it' when my instincts tell me to do so.
The Myth of Rational Thinking in Humans
The notion that humans are typically rational thinkers whose behavior is only occasionally influenced by primitive instincts is a myth that has persisted. This myth originates from the belief that humans are distinct from other animals, a concept that has been challenged with the understanding of human evolution.
Charles Darwin's theory, published over 157 years ago, revealed that humans share a common ancestry with other species, thus allaying the notion of a uniquely rational human. However, the interplay between instinctive reactions and rational choices remains poorly understood. Psychologists are still grappling with how this fundamental duality shapes our behavior.
Understanding Instinct vs. Rationality
From a biological perspective, humans retain many of the instincts that their ancestral species developed. These instincts, while still active, are often masked by our rational abilities. Rationality can be seen as a finely calibrated overlay that modifies our instinctive responses.
Similar to how computer languages operate, rationality provides a more nuanced control system that interacts with the more basic instinctive control system. This interaction is akin to the relationship between the autonomic nervous system, which regulates heart rate and body temperature, and the instinctive system.
For instance, an instinctive phobia can cause a racing heart even when there is no physical reason for it. This demonstrates how our instinctive reactions can manifest in ways that rational thought alone might not explain fully.
A Personal Perspective
Given my awareness that my instincts have significantly influenced my attitudes and choices for the past 27 years, I can clearly observe how my survival instinct directs my behavior every waking moment. It is an ever-present force that provides the psychological foundation from which I then make conscious, rational decisions whenever possible.
Most of the instincts that evolved during human evolution are still active today, with only a few atrophying. They are constantly affecting our behavior, though often in ways that are masked by our rational processing.
Beyond the survival instinct, other species like foxes, crows, and beavers exhibit complex behaviors that blend rational thought with instinctive reactions. These animals’ underlying instincts are more straightforward to recognize, which helps us understand the dynamic interplay between instinct and rationality in a clearer manner.
In conclusion, the survival instinct plays a crucial role in shaping our behavior, often acting as the underlying driver that guides our actions in times of danger or uncertainty. Recognizing this can help us better understand both our own and others' behaviors, ultimately enhancing our emotional intelligence and decision-making processes.