The Attributes of Instinct

Abstract

The instinct versus learning controversy once revived by LEHRMAN's critique of LORENZ's theory has subsided, yet the issue seems to remain unclear in the minds of many people (SCHOENFELD & BARON, 1965). Although neither the definition of instinct nor the criteria for the dichotomy have been formally put forth, ethologists characterized instinctive behavior by several properties (LORENZ, 1956). The critics of ethological theory not only questioned the reality of the attributes of instinct but also considered it inappropriate to create a category for behavior, the underlying physiological basis for which is of a heterogeneous nature (BEACH, 1955; LEHRMAN, 1953; SCHNEIRLA, 1956). JENSEN (196I) argued that instinct is not demonstrable since it is not operationally defined. However, some of its important attributes are operationally defined, i.e. "operations necessary to demonstrate" them are possible. The present paper attempts at re-evaluating those attributes of instinct.