Surviving the survival instincts.

The word: survival, evokes so many thoughts and definitions, to the human consciousness. Most commonly, it is understood to involve passage —successful passage, through a condition or situation. However, the English dictionary simply put it as: to live; to remain alive. Nevertheless, across these thoughts and definitions is one factor; one  accompanying factor to survival, the term: survival instincts. 

Survival instinct is a naturally occurring phenomenon that occurs in all humans. Basically, it is in simple terms: the instinct in humans —and animals, to do things in any situation —most especially a dangerous situation, that will prevent them from dying. It is a behavior or set of behaviors that ensures the survival —staying alive, of an organism. It can also be said to be a line of action or actions developed either spontaneously or overtime, in response to situations that threaten one’s survival. 

A peripheral look at the term survival instinct, would give birth to appreciation for the fact that it  occurs naturally, and in every organism —most especially in humans and mammals. It —in previous times, was a useful tool in the face of danger, threat to existence, extinction and even racism and tribalism. The world over, historic humans had indeed leveraged on survival instincts to preserve themselves and their own. In today’s world, it still exists, with so many people staying alive, despite unfavorable living and economic conditions. But does it end there?

A careful —rational, introspection of the term survival instinct, reveals more to be feared of it. Survival instincts are classified into 3 main sub categories:

• Self-preservation – responding to perceived threats and needs.
• Social – creating social structures within communities.
• One-to-one – primary relationships or coupling; also known as the sexual subtype.

Amongst the three, self preservation is the governing category  —the foundational instinct of survival instincts. Self-preservation is defined as a set of behaviors that ensures the basic protection of oneself from harm or death. It is defined to include maintenance and preservation of one’s self, virtues, identity and one’s own. Self preservation dictates how social and one-on-one instincts are developed. For sentient organisms —humans, it goes beyond self protection against harm or death and the rest, to include self protection against unwanted emotions such as pain and fear. Today, humans apply self preservation to not just the emotions: pain and fear, but to love, relationships, business, and even social classifications —rich and poor. Many humans strive to protect themselves against “harm” and “loss” in these areas, developing certain behaviors which they deem a defense to being victimized in the aforementioned areas. 

Objectively, self preservation can be seen as necessary evil —as some views hold. However, the line between the good in self preservation and its bad is actually thin. Most people do not know where self preservation —survival instinct, actually ends. Hence, vices like selfishness and others, are being confused with self preservation. Selfishness, unlike self preservation; which is characterized by literally preserving oneself, is an intentional lack of consideration for others. Selfishness is choosing to ignore what is happening in the world because it doesn’t directly affect you. Selfishness isn’t about staying safe, it’s about getting ahead.

Aside from selfishness is the vice: insecurity. Defined as lack of confidence and doubt in not just one self, but in others, insecurity is another vice being confused with self preservation. By imagining possible threats —even where there is none, insecure humans develop a “damage control” mode, and instead of effecting it after damage has been done,  implement it as status quo. With these two vices replacing self preservation, emotions like loving become a transaction. Business becomes competition, relationships become deals, social classifications become titles and a survival of the fittest mentality is normalized. Hence, from trying to survive —stay alive, while passing through and experiencing different phenomena, we deviate, and in its place create a reality quite unhealthy, necessitating the invention of newer, more adverse survival instincts.

Progressively, the key to true self preservation —the maintenance and preservation of one’s self, virtues, identity and one’s own, without prejudice to his neighbor, is the development and normalization of a new mentality; the survival of the kindest mentality. We humans need to understand that humaneness and susceptibility are not actually weaknesses, but are actually survival instincts that permit another human to survive. for though survival instincts are naturally occurring in everyone, it is more horned in some others than the rest. With the survival of the kindest mentality, everyone gets a chance to survive, relationships are better, competition is nullified, the negative vices associated with —and mistaken for, self preservation are eliminated, the common man gets a chance to stay alive and society is a better place.