Phenomenon of Instinctive Drift in Animal and Human Behavior

Instinctive Drift

When operant behavior deteriorates despite continued reinforcement due to the elicitation of instinctive behaviors

Instinctive drift is a behavior in animals that can occur during the learning process. It is a phenomenon where an animal gradually shifts back to its innate, instinctual behaviors, rather than learning new behaviors through training. This can happen when an animal’s innate predisposition conflicts with the newly learned behavior.

For example, in experiments with rats, researchers found that when they trained rats to drop coins into piggy banks, some rats would slowly drift back to their natural tendency to pick up the coins and hoard them instead of dropping them into the bank. This behavior is believed to be the result of the rats’ instinctual tendency to hoard food and objects that they find in the wild.

The concept of instinctive drift has important implications for animal training. In order to train an animal effectively, trainers need to be aware of the animal’s natural tendencies and work with them, rather than against them. It is also important to recognize when an animal is experiencing instinctive drift and adjust training methods accordingly to prevent it.

In the context of human behavior, the concept of instinctive drift can be used to explain why certain people may struggle to change certain habits or behaviors, despite their best efforts. Our innate tendencies and predispositions can sometimes override learned behaviors, making it difficult for us to change. Understanding the concept of instinctive drift can help us develop better strategies for breaking bad habits and adopting new, healthier ones.

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