Unnecessary Human Instincts

Like all other animals, humans also have instincts that are deeply ingrained within them. However, a lot of these traits and habits just don’t make sense in today’s modern world. Despite that, they control a lot of our behaviors and could be the reason behind your senseless fears or behaviors. How many of these instincts still control your life?

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1. Fear of Spiders

Arachnophobia is a very common fear among people, and it might actually have a basis in our origins. Nowadays, people get made fun of for being scared of something so small and insignificant. But in the wilds, these creatures were venomous and dangerous, which is why we still retain this fear. Odds are the spiders in your house aren’t that type, but your instincts don’t know any better.

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2. Herd Mentality

It’s been observed that people will do as others do and won’t ask questions right away. For instance, if you see people gathered around a spot, you may find yourself going over to see what’s happening. If people suddenly start running away, you too might begin to run away, even if you have no clue from what.

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3. Fight or Flight

To this day, a lot of people find themselves subjected to their fight or flight instincts. In the wilds, this helped us escape predators or combat them. Now, anything from traffic or a bad email can trigger this response in us.

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4. High Calorie Foods

Why do you find yourself constantly craving potato chips and French fries? Well, our bodies are predisposed to craving fatty and sugary foods. This is because in the wild, this sort of food increased survival odds. Now, ironically, they lower survival odds.

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5. Body Hair

Body hair can be so annoying, especially if you’re the type who prefers to shave for a smoother look. In the wilds, this hair would help us manage temperature and also serve as a layer of protection from dirt and debris. Now, clothes and temperature devices take care of insulation and protection.

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6. Reciprocation

It turns out politeness isn’t a random thing civilized people do, but an instinct leftover from our ancestors. If someone does something nice for you, and you feel the urge to reciprocate. Turns out our ancestors lived on a sharing basis, as it was essential to work together to survive back in the day.

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7. Backseat Driving

Do you ever find yourself sitting in the passenger seat and instinctively reaching for the brake pedal when the other person is driving? There’s an innate urge for humans to want to control situations. This is because in ancient times, those with better management and control were the ones to survive, and so we inherit these traits.

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8. Loss Aversion

Do you ever realize that the bad things have more impact on you than the good things? Well, that’s because we’re predisposed to take losses very hard, whether that’s money poorly spent or a lost shirt. For our ancestors, one loss might as well mean the end of their survival, and we still think of it as a big deal even when it isn’t anymore.

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9. Fear of the Dark

You know you’re perfectly safe at home, and there’s nothing scary in the darkness coming to get you. Still, you can’t help but feel anxious, going as far as to buy a night light or leave a lamp on. Well, this is another human instinct from our heyday, back when the dark did in fact, hide predators hunting us.

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10. Alert at Night

In fact, if you feel extra wired at night or just more aware and alert of your surroundings, this is also because of the past dangers of the darkness. That’s why we’re more acutely aware of the sounds our houses make around bedtime. Same goes for nighttime hikes.

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11. The Appendix

Everyone fears the day their appendix might burst. This leads to a quite common surgery where the unnecessary vestigial is removed. Originally, the appendix was needed to digest the cellulose in plants, indicating an era where our diet was far more primitive.

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12. The Freeze Response

If you ever dropped something or knocked something off, you might find that you freeze and stare at it for a few seconds before jumping into action. Well, this freeze response is often observed in animals and is a way to mitigate further harm. It’s similar to fight or flight and is a way to cope with a sudden situation.

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13. Cat Napping

If you have trouble falling asleep, you’re not the only one. A lot of people find themselves preferring cat naps to large chunks of sleep. This is because our ancestors slept the same way, preferring small stretches rather than putting themselves at risk for multiple hours.

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14. Jumpscares

Do you suddenly jump up or get startled when something appears suddenly? This could be a surprise scene in a horror movie or just turning around and seeing your cat in an unexpected spot. Well, this startle reflex was from back in the day when it helped us identify sudden threats.

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15. Goosebumps

Goosebumps can happen when you’re feeling frightened or even cold. They essentially make the hairs on your body rise up, which doesn’t do much now. However, when we originally had more hair to work with, this would make us appear larger to those who scared us.

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16. Wisdom Teeth

Many people have to undergo wisdom teeth surgeries to remove these annoying molars. You might wonder why your body even bothers with an extra set? Well, back in the day they were needed to chew through raw food, which was often tough. But cooking and dental hygiene have eliminated the need since.

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17. Tribalism

Do you ever find yourself agreeing with the majority, only to realize in hindsight the flaws in their logic? Well, loyalty to certain groups is an innately human instinct. This could be loyalty to people who share the same physical characteristics, are of the same gender, or subscribe to the same beliefs.

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18. Status Obsession

Comparison is the theft of joy, but it turns out comparison is something we’ve inherited from our ancestors. Status was an essential part of life back in the day, as it meant more access to food, better mating options, and control over the tribe. Status is directly correlated with survival, so we may make a bigger deal of it now than it is.

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19. Desire for Fairness

It turns out humans have an instinctive desire for fairness, whether this means respecting a line or crediting ideas properly. If you find yourself getting angry at bad drivers or those who steal your glory, you’re not being petty; you’re prioritizing survival. In olden times, fairness was essential, as someone stashing extra food could mean the end of your tribe.

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20. Fear of the Unknown

Whether it’s a strange food or a spooky-looking trail, the unknown can be rightfully terrifying. Your friends might call you a coward, but our ancestors knew that the unknown did in fact, equal danger. They couldn’t just walk into any cave, or risk eating whatever!

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