I do not allow alternate activities.Research participation is a must.If a
student does not want to participate,I drop the student from my class. My
way or the highway!
Michael Sylvester,PhD
Daytona Beach,Florida
I feel the same way about anyone using instincts to explain behavior.
I require student who can not learn that there are no instincts or at least
lie to me and say there are no instincts
to do a 15 page term paper on "Why there are no instincts"
Why am I willing to accept a lie? A change in behavior... lying and saying
there are no instincts will lead to a change in beliefs.
Below is my statement to the students:
Instincts are full blown complex behavior patterns that occur in all members
of a species that can not be modified by learning. As such instinct do not
exist in high order animals, but may exist in insects. Because of the
advancement in research in learning and epigenetic it is starting to appear
that instincts do not even exist in insects.
Innate means a biological link. For example some people can curl their
tongues. It is a biological link to an observable behavior.
Reflex is a simple behavior that occurs after a simple stimulus that can be
modified by learning. Examples, learning to not blink to wearing contact
lenses. learning to change you sucking behavior to improve the reward of
food and touch.
Biological predisposition is species specific behavior pattern that can be
easily learn if the correct environment is present. Example learning to
speak French if you are born and raised in France. Learning to walk, eat,
and swim. Learning sex.
The concepts of innate, reflex, and biological predispositions are not used
to justify murder, war, rape, adultery, racial serotypes, or discrimination.
Instincts are. Biological theories have been use to justifying murdering
over 200 million people in recent times. Since the fundamental idea in
instincts is that a behavior is automatic and not controllable, this means
it can be logically used as a legal defense. For example if you are
mentally ill or retarded, then you can not be found guilty of rape or
murder. The fundamental idea in psychology is learning. Learning changes
the gene code expression (epigenetic) which can even be transmitted to our
children. If instincts exist then learning is irrelevant.
If I can use instincts to defend my behavior, then I am not required to be
responsible or change my behavior. This is similar to a drug addict
explaining why they can not give up their addiction. The fundamental
character of American society is that God gives us free will to allow us
through hard work to learn to be better people. Therefore belief in
instincts is a slap in the face of God, and the American way of life. As
such, since psychology means learning, the use of instincts to explain why
people or animals do what they do, will not be accepted and when give
reasonable time to learn otherwise will require additional learning by doing
a 15 page term paper on "Why there are no instincts."
It takes at least one million years to create an instinct in a species and
it has to be related to increasing the number of children that survive and
reproduce. 99.99% of all species that have lived on this planet are
extinct. A major reason is the reliance on biologically determined
behaviors. Today 99% of the species rely on learning to quickly adapt their
species to their changing environment.
I do not want to waste time on instincts, but reasonable but limited request
for clarification on various topics for example: Why do 6 million deer run
in front of a car and die per year? Why do male lions after killing the
alpha male then kills all his children so the female lion will go hear? Can
this be used to justifying the murder of deformed human babies? Why do
children look like the father? ........ will be tolerated as long as you
remember one simple fact... THERE ARE NO INSTINCTS. We have know this for
100 years, and psychologist were responsible for creating the current
problems of the publics belief in instincts. That is why I am teaching
lawyers how to use instincts as a defense in a murder trial or rape trail.
When the criminal gets off because the jury does not know, then it will make
headlines around the world and people will learn that there are no
instincts.
Remember to use this with your spouse when you commit adultery. Honey, I
could not stop myself because it was instinctual. You had better pray they
have not had my class.
Ron Blue
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Lehigh Carbon Community College
[email protected]
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