Self preservation is essentially the process of an organism preventing itself from being harmed or killed and is considered a basic instinct in most orgaisms[1]. Most call it a "survival instinct". Self-preservation is thought to be tied to an organisms reproductive fitness and can be more or less present according to perceived reproduction potential[2]. If perceived reproductive potential is low enough, self-destructive behavior(the opposite) is not uncommon in social species[3]. Self-preservation is also thought by some to be the basis of rational and logical thought and behavior[4]
Self Preservation
An organism's fitness is measured by its ability to pass on its genes. The most straightforward way to accomplish this is to survive to a reproductive age, mate, and then have offspring. These offspring will hold at least a portion of your own genes, up to all of your own genes in asexual organisms.. But in order for this to happen, an organism must first survive long enough to reproduce, and this would mainly consist of adopting selfish behaviors that would allow organisms to maximize their own chances for survival[4].
Self-Destructive Behavior
An interesting phenomenon sometimes occurs in social animals. Animals in a social group(of kin) often work cooperatively in order to survive, but when one member perceives itself as a burden for an extended period of time, it may commit self-destructive behavior[2]. This allows its relatives to have a better chance at survival, and if enough close relatives survive, then its genes get indirectly passed on anyways[2]. This behavior works in the exact opposite direction of the survival instinct and could be considered a highly altruistic behavior evolved from a cooperative group.
Logical Thought and Behavior
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- ^ "Definition of SELF-PRESERVATION". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
- ^ a b c Brown, R. Michael; Dahlen, Eric; Mills, Cliff; Rick, Jennifer; Biblarz, Arturo (1999-03-01). "Evaluation of an Evolutionary Model of Self-Preservation and Self-Destruction". Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. 29 (1): 58–71. doi:10.1111/j.1943-278X.1999.tb00763.x. ISSN 1943-278X.
- ^ de Catanzaro, Denys (1991-01-01). "Evolutionary limits to self- preservation". Ethology and Sociobiology. 12 (1): 13–28. doi:10.1016/0162-3095(91)90010-N.
- ^ a b Karni, Edi; Schmeidler, David (1986-03-01). "Self-preservation as a foundation of rational behavior under risk". Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. 7 (1): 71–81. doi:10.1016/0167-2681(86)90022-3.