Dominant Human Instinct

[bugsbunny04]

In observing human behavior, I have noticed three basic instincts:

Self Preservation (Survival)

Legacy Creation (Procreation, indirect survival)

Territorial Conquest (Imperialism, somewhat recipricol with Survival)

I'm just wondering which is dominant in humans. I know there are a few odd balls that will be a little different, but in general, what has the tendency to be most dominant.

Also, am I missing any?

[bmaestro]

i kinda think that all three of these are equally important. If any one were dominant, there would be some flaw in our humanity. First, if we held self-preservation dominant over all others, wouldn't that reduce us to the same level of all other animals? Second, if we neglected self-preservation, we'd be working against the good of the species, in the intrest of personal gain, and while this is in some cases true, i don't think that creation of legacy or terretorial conquest can take priority over self-preservation. that would make no biological sense... why would any organism, even human, do that? It's all about balance.

Excellent list though, I'm at a loss for anything else thats so fundamental as these three.

B

[ruiner]

Another one is Group Preservation.
We have an instinct to protect the survival of others in the group we are part of. This can extend from direct family, to tribe, all the way to country

[bugsbunny04]

</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (ruiner,)
Another one is Group Preservation.
We have an instinct to protect the survival of others in the group we are part of. This can extend from direct family, to tribe, all the way to country<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'>

That is a very interesting observation. Could it possibly be related to Self Preservation and Conquest? I would hypothesize that this is somehow related to Conquest, in that we would be able to more easily conquer in larger numbers than in smaller numbers, and to self preservation, in that survival is generally easier in cooperation than it is in lack of cooperation. If this should turn out to be the case, shall we classify it as one of the basic instincts, or subcatagorize it? And then, what sort of model could we use to show the interrelatedness of the instincts without it being over complicated. I would propose a flow chart type.

Proposal: Self preservation leads to groups preservation and conquest which make self preservation easier, conquest leads to Legacy creation which makes conquest easier, and leads others to self preservation to defend against your conquest, which leads them to conquest and groups preser... Hey, it's cyclic!

Any thoughts?

[antayla]

Um, perhaps an instinct to create and organize information?
Although, where that is going I don't know...

[Stigmata66]

Group preservation is procreation; our drive to preserve our species. The sole purpose of an organism is to reproduce and only Self Preservation and Conquest help procreation.

[tman_ndsu08]

The only point of living is to live. So, obviously, survival is the strongest instinct of all humans.

The want to have kids is also very strong and some people might also argue that it is equally the point of life to continue life.

[Packratt]

Self preservation and perpetuation of one's genetic material a basic biological forces. They do drive all animal activities, even humans.

Aggression, which is the third you mention, is a function of procreation and only self preservation when done in defense against preemptive aggression from another organism. Pre-emptive aggression is a function of procreation by the aggressor in an attempt to grab more of a share of the genetic pool.

In humans, and other creatures that rely on socialization as a part of their defense mechanisms, (self preservation instinct), there does seem to be an instinct to defend the "group" from harm. This is still a derivative of the first and second mechanisms, when an organism acts in a way that ensures the survival of the most of it's species it also improves the odds that it's own genetic material will remain viable and helps improves it's own odds of survival.

Of course, we could get into how this means that morals are also a function of biology in humans, but that is something more fitting for a different topic.

[ruiner]

Yes Packratt is right, groups or families with genes that give them better instincts of group preservation and co-operation will florish over groups with no such instincts.
Therefore it only makes sense that the groups and families on earth today that have survived all this time will be the ones with very tuned instincts for social co-operation and group preservation, which is what we see

These instincts aren't designed to protect the whole species, only your group. By promoting the lives of those more closely related to you, you are protecting your families gene pool. In effect your own genes are using you to keep them going by feeding you instincts to want to do so

[jscottlewis]

You are right, I think, in your listing of human instincts. However, why do you assume that one must be dominant over others? Instincts are specific algorithms designed to accomplish different tasks in different situations. In some situations, one may be dominant; in another situation, another instinct might dominate.

Part of the confusion that keeps the nature versus nurture debate going is exclusionary thinking that assumes one idea must be correct to the exclusion of all other ideas. There is no reason why this must necessarily be so in most cases.

[kubedawg]

I think a lot of humans are less dominant in the self preservation instinct as we do a lot of stupid things. Life is about us, me, you. And In my opinion, I think the dominant one is the territorial approach. Yes, we do love to procreate, however, if it weren't for me to begin with, there'd be no chance for procreation with anyone else.

[rez]

Quote by: bugsbunny04 In observing human behavior, I have noticed three basic instincts: Self Preservation (Survival) Legacy Creation (Procreation, indirect survival) Territorial Conquest (Imperialism, somewhat recipricol with Survival) I'm just wondering which is dominant in humans. I know there are a few odd balls that will be a little different, but in general, what has the tendency to be most dominant. Also, am I missing any?

In observing life, I have noticed three basic characteristics.

Self Preservation
Legacy Creation
Territorial Conquest

I think the most important instinct humans have developed was consciousness and the expansion of such a tool.

[another day]

I like your list of three...but I think territorial and legacy creation are the same thing. They both seek to extend the person's ego or "self" onto the world around them, so that they may have a sense of "immorality". If ones name, picture, and story is kept alive in the hearts, minds and history books of the world, then one can live on past their death. Territorial conquest is really just a method of legacy creation.

I would first have to say that no particular instinct will likely be dominant for all people. As with everything else, it will vary.

But I think many if not most put the LEGACY instinct first, at least in their purely conscious mind. Take suicide for example. I see suicide, as well as being escapist, is a final and easy way to attempt to leave your mark on those around you. If you didn't feel important enough or felt hurt by those around you, it is a way to leave a hopefully painful mark in their lives. This clearly trumps the Individual survival instinct.


And rez, consciousness is not an instinct.

[Fonceai]

Consciousness has nothing to do with instinct.

Consciously overriding instinct is the sole characteristic of higher intelligence; the development of a sense of responsibility outside one-self.

One could argue, then, that humans have no dominant instinct.

[another day]

I think we do. Our instincts reside in our SUBCONSCIOUS and often override our conscious mind without our even being aware of it.

[kingmea]

I think procreation is the number one instinct, and self-preservation is merely a means to ensure it. Any instincts derive from your drive to have sex and have babies. You don't live for the sake of living, and nor has your ancestors.

[rez]

Quote by: Fonceai Consciousness has nothing to do with instinct. Consciously overriding instinct is the sole characteristic of higher intelligence; the development of a sense of responsibility outside one-self. One could argue, then, that humans have no dominant instinct.

One could argue that having more instincts is the sole characteristic of higher intelligence.