Animal instinct: what it is, how it works

George Alvarez 28-05-2023
George Alvarez

First of all, think of situations, so far unexplained, about the actions of animals, such as dogs that know when their owners will arrive or species that isolate themselves when they know they will die. This is nothing more than the animal instinct In the meantime, Animals use instincts in almost all of their moments, as a form of primitive consciousness.

Human beings also have instinct, but what differentiates them from animal instinct is intelligence, used to help in their means of survival, while animals, in general, use instinct for their actions, aiming at survival in their environment, such as, for example, the search for food, nest building, and reproduction.

What is animal instinct?

Above all, animal instincts are typical animal behaviors aimed at the survival of their species. As a result, the instinctive behaviors of animals can take complex forms, with specific actions to achieve its ends We can cite countless examples of this in animal life:

  • search for food;
  • spider weaving its web;
  • building the bird's nest;
  • mating;
  • protection of the offspring;
  • dog to sense when its owner is coming;
  • spawning migration.

In this sense, instinct is triggered by a trigger and, as a result, develops automatically, with no room for external influence. In other words, it is because of animal instinct that a being behaves in an instantaneous way, aiming at survival. In other words, it acts the moment it feels that its life, or even that of its group, is at risk.

That is, when the behavior is provoked, the animal does not stop until it does what it feels is necessary for that moment. In this way, we can say that, in order to begin to act, the animal needs a trigger, from which its development will be automatic, and cannot bemanipulated.

How does animal instinct work?

Studies show that animal instinct functions as a form of primitive consciousness According to biologist Rupert Sheldrake, some animals can be said to possess extrasensory abilities, such as cats, dogs, chickens, reptiles, fish, horses.

Above all, animals possess instinctive abilities that humans do not possess, or that have been lost in the course of their evolution, which Sheldrake indicates as extrasensory powers.

In short, animal instinct works through a set of behaviors, inherited by the animal, that help them in their survival. In this way, they develop skills that allow them to deal with threats, such as searching for their game and communicating with others of their species.

In other words, we can say that animal instinct For example, a lion cub is born knowing how to hunt, play, and interact with its species. In other words, these are innate behaviors, not acquired throughout life.

Animalistic survival instinct

Above all, the animal instinct for survival is one of the strongest animal instincts As the name implies, it is a fundamental characteristic to enable them to survive difficult situations, protecting the species.

For example, animals can respond to immediate threats to their lives with defensive behaviors, such as fleeing or fighting. In addition, they can also use their instincts to avoid potentially dangerous situations in the first place.

Moreover, you should know that most animals adapt to their environment in order to survive.

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Animal instinct and sixth sense

For many scholars animal instinct is like a sixth sense, because it works as a defense mechanism, to help prevent dangerous situations and respond to them in an appropriate way. You have possibly already witnessed or heard, for example, about dogs that can predict that their owners will go through dangerous situations, even if they are not at their side.

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Researchers are not unanimous on the understanding that this is, in fact, a sixth sense. However, we cannot deny that animal instincts are extremely sensitive In addition, they are adaptable to changes in the environment and have a high sensory level, which is not present in human nature today.

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Therefore, animals are still very much attached to their primitive, natural instincts, which eventually lead to special behaviors such as walking in groups, feeding, and coexisting habitats.

Animal instinct in the human being

In spite of the fact that humans have a greater capacity for control than other animals, the animal instinct For example, the struggle for territory, the instinct of protection and the search for shelter and resources are still present in people's daily lives.

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However, human characteristics may differ from other species in that humans can modify their behavior as a result of education and experience. For example, humans can learn to control their emotional impulses, while other animals do not have this ability.tion to a more complex environment than other animals.

What are instincts for Psychoanalysis?

O he concept of instinct is one of the pillars of psychoanalysis. ise In other words, they are present in all human beings, are unconscientious and are motivated by life instincts..

For psychoanalysis, these instincts are extremely important because they are responsible for the unconscious impulses that motivate human behavior. Thus, the understanding of these instincts is essential to better understand the psych ological and behavioral dynamics of human beings.

Instincts of Life and Death, according to Freud

According to Sigmund Freud, considered the Father of Psychoanalysis, the instincts are not inherited, but are internal stimuli of our body In the meantime, he divides instincts into two categories:

  1. Life: are those related to the survival of the species, such as sex, hunger and thirst;
  2. Death: corresponds to behaviors such as suicide, aggression, hatred, and masochism.

However, for Freud these instincts are related to the libido, that is, sexual behavior is a means to preserve life. Freud's studies on the libido, as well as his studies on the death instincts, were influenced by several factors, applied until today in the studies on the human psyche.

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George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.