On instinct & behaviors

In general, human behaviors are divided into 2 broad groups, i.e. “natural” and “Un-natural”. Before you raise your hand, allow me to summarise.

“Natural” behaviors refer to all instinctive actions (or in-actions) that satisfy natural requirements of a living being, regardless of whether he/she comes from civilized and uncivilized background.

As the logic goes, “Un-natural” behaviors refer to the opposite of “Natural” behaviors.

To illustrate, behaviors of other non-human, soulless, dumb living beings are also presented as comparison to show the superiority of the chosen, intelligent, special human species.

“Natural” behaviors can be further sub-divided as follows, in order of priority.

1.  Individual survivor

1. 

-          Animals: eat, sleep, run from danger, hide from the elements, hunt, rob from the weaker ones etc.

-          Human: eat, sleep, run from danger, hide from the elements, hunt, rob from the weaker ones, selfish, back stabbing, lie, cheat etc.

Every action has 1 single purpose in mind, to instinctively stay alive.

2.        2. Propagation of own genes
.

-          Animals: courtship, love dance (birds, some fish, some insects), display of strength/beauty (peacocks, moose etc), gifts (dung beetles,  chimpanzees etc) mate, maternal care, occasional paternal care (Penguins, hornbills, sea horses etc), defending offsprings, fight for mating rights, guard harem of females (lions, elephant seals, zebras etc), kill off-springs sired by other males/females (lions, bears etc), exclusive breeding rights of alpha pairs (wolves, African wild dogs, merkats etc)

-          Human: courtship, date, makeup, perfume, sport cars, diamonds, mate, maternal care, romance, marriage, winner gets the princess, polygamy, criminalized adultery, virgin wife, jealousy, possessiveness, demand for faithful partner etc.

Every action has the purpose of increasing the chance of passing on ones’ (male/female) genes to the next generation.

3.       3. Survival of the species.

-          Animals: live in pack (wolves), reluctant to harm babies (of same species), pack hunting (lions), collective care for babies in the pack (hyenas), pecking order (chicken and some birds), social hierarchy (alpha pair in wolves, dominant silverback gorillas etc), dispose of the old and injured from pack, chase away grown up males/females to reduce chances of incest (avoid in-breeding), rarely cannibalise, expand/defend territory, killing competitors (lions and hyenas killing each other whenever there is an opportunity) etc.

-          Human: families, villages, countries, family names, reluctant to harm babies (of same race, civilised killing uncivilised is generally ok), matriarch society, caste system, organized religions, Gods, governments, kings and novelties, saints and noble men, mercy killings, criminalized incest, dislike cannibalism, wars, slavery, banning homosexuality, genocides, create rules and laws, moral, honour to serve in war, encourage virtues (honesty, faithfulness to country, subordination etc) while punish sins (liars, thieves, disobedient, question Gods etc)

Every action is aimed at multiplying ones’ species (race, group, country etc), preserving order and reducing competitions from other species (race, group, country etc)

Natural behaviors are in order of priority, individual survival being the most important and hence of highest priority. E.g. in a war or disaster, a human will usually save himself first, then his offsprings. Defending the county will be on lower priority

“Un-natural” behaviors are those that don’t contribute to the above actions/inactions.

1.       1. Anti survival of individual or species.

    - Animals: extremely rare to none. only observed on some intelligent species such as elephant, dolphins and primates. dolphins had been spotted many times fending off sharks from injured members, even human divers were reported saved by dolphins.

    - Human: care for aged parents; defend unrelated sick, disabled people, sacrifice ones’ life for the benefits of other unrelated people, compassion towards other non-human species.


    2.  Non survival related behaviors

   

     - Animals: extremely rare to none. only observed on some intelligent species such as elephant, dolphins and primates. Dolphins and bonobos are the 2 known species , besides human, that have non reproductive sex. (http://songweaver.com/info/bonobos.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_sexual_behaviour)

     - Human: music, arts, literature, sports, individual spirituality, sex for pleasure etc.

Above behaviors are considered as going beyond the realm of survival of either individual or species. Nevertheless, they are not in the mainstream of human behaviors which are cherished by the masses.

By far, three of most popular and cherished elements of human life are: Food, romance and organized religions.

So, can you go beyond instinct and survival?