Do humans have instincts?

[nilecroc]

We were talking about what governs human behavior and someone brought maternal instinct. My proffesor said that it doesn't exist. He then went on to say that humans don't have instincts. I find this interesting if its true.

[dallen68]

I would say that humans do have instincts, they just aren't as important as with other species. As for "maternal instinct", I would say that parenting in humans (for both mother and father) is a learned trait, and therefore within this context your professor is correct.

Some legitimate examples of human instinct (which you may want to discuss in class, if you have the opportunity):

Backing away from the ledge when your at a high place.

Blocking your genitals when you see a foot coming.

Blocking your head when you see a bat (the wood/aluminium kind) coming.

Looking for food when you hear your stomach growl.

There's probably more, but that's all I can think of for now. In general, legitmate instinct has to do with an immediate situation, almost every thing else (especially long-term things like parenting) are learned behaviours, skills, or whatever you want to call it.

[Travis Retriever]

We were talking about what governs human behavior and someone brought maternal instinct. My professor said that it doesn't exist. He then went on to say that humans don't have instincts. I find this interesting if its true.

My sociology/psychology professor has said the same thing, actually.

[MrBogosity]

Sensorimotor responses are unconscious, and in every other animal they're included in what's called "instinct."

[evensgrey]

Humans are animals, and all other animals (at least, those with sophisticated behavior) are accepted to have instincts.  The extraordinary claim (requiring the attendant extraordinary evidence) is the claim that humans are unique in not having instincts.  A much more difficult question is identifying what those instincts actually are.

One very interesting instinct is the ability to recognize language as something different from all other kinds of sounds.  It has been demonstrated that babies are able, from shortly after birth, to differentiate between a person speaking in any language from a person making random sounds.  Within a few months, this ability becomes restricted to the ability to recognize the language or languages the baby is exposed to (and will shortly begin trying to speak).  Since this ability initially works for all languages and then is refined to those actually heard, it must be innate and instinctive rather than anything learned.  If anything, the baby learns to not recognize languages it doesn't encounter.

[Professor_Fennec]

Have you ever seen a hot girl or hot guy and said "I really want to tap that"?

Have you ever looked at some food and said, "That looks delicious, I want some"?

Have you ever been in the hot sun and said, "I really could use a glass of water"?

If your answer to any of these questions is "yes", then congratulations, you have instincts.