🔵 Instinct Meaning - Instinctive Defined - Instinctual Examples - Instinct - Basic GRE Vocabulary

Summary

The video explains the meaning and usage of the word “instinct” and its related forms such as instinctive, instinctively, instinctual, and instinctually. It highlights how instinct refers to natural, inborn behaviors or reactions that occur without conscious thought, often shared across a species. The speaker provides examples involving animals, human intuition, natural talents, and gut reactions, showing how instinct functions in everyday situations. The video also compares instinct with intuition, discusses formality levels, and briefly mentions the word’s Latin origin. Overall, it offers a clear and engaging exploration of how instinct shapes behavior and decision-making.

Takeaways

• 😀 Instinct refers to a natural, inborn ability to react to situations without thinking, often observed in both animals and humans.
• 😀 Instinctive actions are those that occur automatically, without needing to be learned or thought about, such as a human's instinct to protect themselves.
• 😀 Instinct is shared across a species, and all members react in a similar way to certain stimuli, like animals instinctively fearing fire.
• 😀 An instinct can also be a natural talent or aptitude, such as having an instinct for music or business.
• 😀 The adverb 'instinctively' describes actions that are done automatically, without thought, e.g., 'She instinctively knew it was time to leave.'
• 😀 The adjective 'instinctive' refers to something that is done in accordance with instinct, such as an 'instinctive reaction'.
• 😀 'Instinctual' is another adjective that is closely related to 'instinctive', but can sometimes be perceived as more formal.
• 😀 'Instinctually' is the adverb form of 'instinctual' and describes actions done based on instinct, though it's less commonly used than 'instinctively'.
• 😀 Instincts can be linked to survival, like a 'self-preservation' instinct that motivates individuals to protect themselves.
• 😀 The word 'instinct' comes from the Latin 'instinctus', meaning impulse or instigation, derived from 'instinguo' which means 'to prick or urge'.

Q & A

What is the definition of 'instinct' as described in the video?

'Instinct' is the way animals or people naturally react or behave to a certain situation without thinking about it. It is an inborn, automatic response to a stimulus or condition.

How is the word 'instinct' different from 'intuition' according to the speaker?

'Instinct' refers to a natural, inborn behavior or reaction, while 'intuition' is more about insight or a gut feeling, often without rational thought, but not necessarily an automatic behavior like instinct.

Can 'instinct' be used in human behaviors? Give an example from the transcript.

Yes, humans can have instincts too. For example, the speaker mentions having a 'first instinct' to not trust someone, based on a natural gut feeling or reaction.

What does 'instinctive' mean?

'Instinctive' describes something that is driven by instinct, occurring naturally without conscious thought. It is a spontaneous, unlearned reaction.

What does the phrase 'act on instinct' imply?

'Acting on instinct' means reacting automatically or spontaneously to a situation, without thinking or analyzing it beforehand.

How does 'instinct' relate to survival or self-preservation?

Instincts like self-preservation are natural and automatic responses that ensure survival, such as fear of danger or the impulse to protect oneself.

What is the role of 'instinct' in animals, as discussed in the video?

In animals, instinct is a crucial, inborn ability that helps them respond to specific situations. For instance, animals instinctively avoid fire or know when to migrate, as it is part of their natural behavior.

How does the speaker differentiate between instinct and learned behavior?

Instinctive behavior is not learned or thought about—it happens automatically. In contrast, learned behavior requires conscious effort and experience.

What is an example of instinct in human expertise mentioned in the transcript?

The speaker mentions people who have an 'instinct for music' or a 'natural instinct for ball games.' These are examples of people being naturally skilled at certain activities without needing formal training.

What does the speaker mean by a 'natural instinct for making money'?

This phrase refers to a person having an innate ability or natural skill to succeed in business or financial endeavors, often intuitively knowing what to buy or sell.