Dr. Know-it-All hosts a TV talk show. One of his guests, Joe College, complains of his intense annoyance with people who talk on their cell phones while driving. Joe asks Dr. Know-it-All to explain why he reacts so strongly to this type of situation. Dr. Know-it-All immediately pronounces that Joe has an instinct for cell phone irritation. Is Dr. Know-it-All correct to assume that instinct is the cause of Joe's behavior?
A) yes - instinct is the basis for all behavior
B) yes - instinct is our primal reaction to all annoying behavior
C) no - instinct is only used to explain adaptive behaviors
D) no - most behavior is too complex to be explained on the basis of instinct

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Instinct is a basic, automatic response to a stimulus that is present in all individuals of a species. While instinct can explain some behavioral responses, such as reflexes and basic survival behaviors, most human behavior is too complex to be explained solely on the basis of instinct. The behavior Joe College is exhibiting is likely a learned response to the annoyance and potential danger of distracted driving.

Dr Know-It-All Hosts a TV Talk Show