Peg writes:
Yes we have an instinct to eat, But some people will choose not to eat when hungry...anorexics are one example
What is the motivation for an anorexic patient's self inflicted starvation? Typically it is a self image issue. A desire to become more attractive to the opposite sex. Anorexia is indeed a psychological condition that is diagnosed from predictable behavioral patterns, those same patterns that you claim do not exist in Homo Sapiens.
Peg writes:
The instinct to care for offspring is very strong amongst all animals...except for humans who readily will kill their offspring ie abortion. Or they will neglect them and not care for them properly.
What about a mother cat that eats her young at the spotting of the slightest malformation? Or male grizzly bears that will slaughter cubs (even if they are his own) so the female grizzly can go into heat again? You seem to be deriving your view on the animal kingdom from the Disney Channel.
Peg writes:
That certainly is not beneficial to the human race.
How is it non-beneficial? Do you think the succession of those individuals genetic material through their offspring would somehow be beneficial?
Peg writes:
Even when it comes to Fight or flight we present a non instinctual behavior. Animals will hear a noise and run, but humans are more inclined to get closer & investigate. When a volcano erupts for example we see the smoke rising and want a front row seat...many people have died because they did not flee in time. Unlike animals who sense the danger and take to flight at the first signs of activity.
Your examples are based on a species that relies on the acquisition of data before making the fight flight decision. I guarantee you that once those individuals assessed enough data to determine imminent danger, their Amygdala took over. Sadly, in some cases this is too late.
Fight or flight is only one scenario that was provided. How about the others? I will even add pain reflex as an example as well.
As a parting note, it should be acknowledged that instincts can be canceled out in a scenario in which a higher priority instinct is being utilized. An example would be a mother getting between a predator and her young, despite the imminent threat of death/injury. These are all adequately explained through psychological research on even a basic level.
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