Basic Instinct or Survival?

Basic instinct is a concept which is difficult to truly understand. After listening to Rheingold’s presentation regarding interaction of humans and the collaborative nature of man, I would have to say I agreed with much of what he was professing. However, when I look at the question “Do you believe that humans have a basic instinct to “interact and work as a group”?” I would have to say not necessarily.

While my background on ancient man is weak, I seem to recall from history that survival is what brought us together. Hunting in groups worked much better than alone. Relying on the group for safety, traveling as a hunting group, following herds of animals, etc., is what brought man together. And, speaking of herds, this is what brings many animal species together, too. Survival.

Personally speaking, and maybe because it’s so difficult to find, I seek solitude. Quiet time to reflect and be is what I seek in order to regenerate my battery and face the world of interactions which I must face in order to survive and be a contributing member of our society. Often times, I truly enjoy the interactions I have with others and sometimes I just really have to get myself prepared in order to face certain groups or individuals. What may have happened is that my “basic instinct” has been tampered with. Maybe the world around me or my upbringing has affected my instinct to seek interactions with groups. Maybe I would seek interactions more if they weren’t always in my daily routine!

Small children have basic instincts which are very apparent. Their instincts are to eat, sleep and to be nurtured through touch. All of these basic instincts are facilitated by a care giver; feeding a baby, holding, rocking to sleep. So, maybe we are more social beings than interactive beings. While these basic needs are also being addressed interactively, again, this is part of survival as well.

So, in conclusion, I would have to disagree with the statement that interaction as a group is a basic instinct. Socializing is what I would call a basic instinct of man, but to interact and work as a group, I believe, derives from survival techniques. And this continues into this day and age from the stone age to our information age.