INSTINCTS AND HABITS 249 



INSTINCTS AND HABITS 



1. Unlearned reactions 



Direct responses of protoplasm 



Reflexes 



Instincts 



Adaptive instincts 



Indifferent instincts 



Adaptation not perfect 



2. Modification of instincts 



By chemical conditions 

 . By experience — habit 



Relation of feeling to habit formation 

 Pain 

 Pleasure 

 Negative (inhibition) and positive (action) aspects 

 Kinds of habits 



Motor (muscular, action) 



Thinking (association nerves ; cortex) 



Feeling (nerves and internal secretions) 



(Physiological, depending upon direct reaction of protoplasm) 



3. Place of instinct and habit in life 



Reliability of instincts in natural conditions 



Need for modification 



Value of habit for certain kinds of activities 



Value of retaining ability to learn 



Habit as a means of control 



Over our environment 



Over ourselves 

 Habit as basis for character 



QUESTIONS 



1. How can you distinguish instinctive actions from acquired ones ? 



2. In what class of actions do people show most similarity ? most 

 difference ? Why ? 



3. How can you distinguish instinctiv^e actions from reflexes ? 



4. Why is it that the sight of certain food will make one person's 

 mouth ''water" but not another's? Why is it that certain food will 

 make your mouth "water" at one time but not at another? 



