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Instinctive behavior is an inborn pattern of behavior. Here is an example were baby geese are following their mother. This helps the geese survive because they now have protection.

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Instinctive behavior is important for animals, an example would be a wildebeest being born being a able to walk. Instinctive behavior is very important for the animals survival as wildebeests are not stationary, they move around constantly especially during migration which is around the time the babies are born.

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Here is a video explaining instincts and instinctive behavior.

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Instinct Defined

Instinct is a term used to describe a set of behaviors that are both unlearned and set in motion as the result of some environmental trigger. Instincts are also often discussed in relation to motivation since they can also occur in response to an organism's need to satisfy some innate internal drive tied to survival.

Instincts are present across species and are consistent within individual species. In other words, many different species rely on instincts, and if one member of a species possesses an instinct, then they all do.

Before we move into a discussion of specific types of instincts, it is important to distinguish the difference between an instinct and a reflex. Both are types of unlearned behavior that tend to serve a survival purpose. The difference is that a reflex is a typically a simple reaction or a response to an environmental trigger whereas an instinct is a much more complex set of behaviors.

For instance, an example of a reflex would be when a baby turns his head toward an object that is pressed against one cheek in an effort to nurse. The head turn is a simple reactionary process. An instinct would be the manner in which a mother bird regurgitates her food to feed her young in response to their signals of hunger. Both are reactions to environmental cues; however, the mother bird must engage in a series of much more complex behaviors in order to respond to the cues the environment is providing her.

Examples of Instincts

Instinctual behavior has been identified across a wide variety of species. Instincts serve different purposes and show up at different points in development depending on the purpose each serves and the species within which it exists. In this section we will take a look at some of the more prominent instincts in both humans and non-humans and also examine the purpose behind each instinct.

Non-Human Instincts

When the seasons change and winter draws near, many species of bears prepare for hibernation. Food supplies become scarce and the extreme weather conditions make survival difficult. Hibernation is a complex set of behaviors. It requires being aware of the time of year, engaging in pre-hibernation preparation tasks, hibernating, and emerging from hibernation at the right time; quite a complex process, to say the least.

Similarly, migration in whales is a complex set of behaviors that is set in motion by cues from the environment. Some whales migrate in response to food supply shortages and others for mating purposes. Much the same as hibernation, migration is not a simple thing. It requires much energy and effort.

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instinct: definition & explanation - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Instinct: Definition & Explanation - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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Instinct is a term used to describe a set of behaviors that are both unlearned and set in motion as the result of some environmental trigger. Instincts are also often discussed in relation to motivation since they can also occur in response to an organism's need to satisfy some innate internal drive tied to survival.

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These are all examples of how the behavior has become an adaptation. The spider is born being a able to spin its web, and now it uses it for hunting. The bird uses its nest to protect its eggs.

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https://www.ck12.org/biology/innate-behavior/lesson/Innate-Behavior-of-Animals-BIO/
http://yahki.com/kblevins657/stories/20151028/Acquired-Traits-and-Inherited-Behaviors https://ecologywiki.wikispaces.com/Behavior
https://study.com/academy/lesson/instinct-definition-lesson-quiz.html