Many believe that as we mature, our instincts undergo a profound transformation—from being vividly expressed in childhood games to showing minimal activity in adulthood.

Evolved Instincts: The Hidden Force Shaping Adult Behavior

Many believe that as we mature, our instincts undergo a profound transformation—from being vividly expressed in childhood games to showing minimal activity in adulthood. This view is based on the idea that the early impulses inherent in every child are gradually suppressed through socialization and the development of conscious mechanisms, eventually being replaced by deliberate actions and reflexes. This approach explains why adult behavior is often characterized by rational and controlled responses, dominated by basic self-preservation signals and, in particular cases, a nurturing maternal response.

However, despite this apparent paradox, many scholars argue that the roots of our instinctive reactions lie deeper than our consciousness and continue to influence our decisions and responses. Even if our conscious mechanisms appear fully developed on the surface, the original impulses do not vanish entirely; they become part of a complex system where ancient experiences intertwine with cultural and social norms. It is this synthesis that renders human psychology so unique and complex.

The conclusion is that adult instincts are not a lost trait but rather an evolved mechanism that helps us navigate a changing world, preserving our connection with primordial roots while allowing us to consciously control our behavior.

What are the reasons behind the widespread belief that humans lack instincts?

The common belief that adults virtually have no instincts is based on several psychological theories that highlight a clear distinction between the behavior of children and that of adults. According to one well-known perspective, instinctive behaviors are vividly expressed in childhood, and as socialization and consciousness develop, many of these impulses "disappear" or are suppressed. In particular, the play theory suggests that children's games are meant to reveal and subsequently extinguish instincts, leading to the opinion that in adulthood only the basic instincts—self-preservation and maternal instinct—remain.

Thus, the belief that humans have no instincts is associated with the observation that adult behavior is determined by other, often more deliberate mechanisms, and that early instinctive impulses merely leave an imprint in childhood experiences before giving way to more complex processes of conscious control.

Supporting citation(s):
"If no one denies the fact that instincts play a major role in children, quite a few psychologists believe that instincts play virtually no role in adults. It is from this perspective that the already well-known play theory emerged, according to which games serve to reveal instincts that are then supposed to disappear. Psychologists who adhere to this viewpoint see no instincts in adults except two—self-preservation and the maternal instinct. But this viewpoint, as James first pointed out, cannot be sustained; the concept of instinct, as the basis of purposeful responses determined by internal drives that, although ascending to consciousness, are rooted deeper within it, is absolutely necessary." (source: link txt, page: 97)