Immediately after hatching, loggerhead sea turtles instinctively begin a perilous journey from their sandy nest to the ocean. This behavior is unlearned and innate, compelling them to move forward despite inefficient flippers on hot sand and threats from predators like gulls and ghost crabs. This drive to reach the sea is a critical survival instinct present from the moment of birth.

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In developmental psychology, 'nature' refers to an individual's biological and genetic makeup. These are the specific traits inherited from biological parents, such as eye color, height, and certain personality characteristics.

Nature in Developmental Psychology

From a biological perspective, an instinct is a species-specific, unlearned pattern of behavior. These are complex, innate behaviors often triggered by events like maturation or seasonal changes. Unlike simple reflexes, instincts typically involve the entire organism, such as in migration or mating, and are controlled by higher brain centers.

Instinct (Definition)

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Read the scenario below. Analyze the situation to identify which of Alex's characteristics are most likely a result of biological and genetic inheritance. Justify your answer by explaining the evidence from the text.

Analyzing Inherited Traits

Analyze the following scenario. Identify two specific similarities between the twins that are most likely attributable to their shared biological and genetic inheritance, and explain your reasoning.

Analysis of Inherited Traits in Twins

An individual's development is shaped by a reciprocal interaction between genetics (nature) and environment (nurture). This is a two-way relationship: a person's unique environmental experiences affect if and how their genetic traits are expressed, while their genes simultaneously influence how they engage with their environment.

Reciprocal Interaction of Nature and Nurture

Instincts and reflexes are both innate behaviors, but they differ significantly in complexity, scope, and neural control. Reflexes are simple, localized reactions involving primitive brain regions, whereas instincts are complex behavioral patterns that involve the whole organism and are controlled by higher brain centers.

Comparison of Instincts and Reflexes

Several animal behaviors are classic examples of instinct. These include birds constructing nests and migrating seasonally, salmon navigating upstream to their spawning grounds, and spiders weaving complex webs without being taught.

Examples of Instinctive Behaviors

The instinct theory of motivation faced significant criticism. A major point of contention was the lack of consensus among early psychologists, like William James and his contemporaries, on what exactly constituted an instinct, leading to differing lists of proposed instincts. The theory was further challenged by the undeniable role of learning in shaping human behavior. Experiments in the early 1900s, such as Watson's work with "Little Albert," demonstrated that behaviors once considered instinctive could be the result of associative learning.

Criticisms of Instinct Theory of Motivation

Instincts are a type of innate behavior that are triggered by a broader range of events, such as maturation and the change of seasons. They are more complex patterns of behavior than reflexes, involve movement of the organism as a whole, and are mediated by higher brain centers.

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