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Instinct Theory
Emily Williams
Sabrina Volino
Lauren Joray
Instinct Theory
William James
Instinct Theory
1842- 1910
About William James
How does this change our view?
What is it?
The instinct theory is the idea that all behaviors are driven by instincts. He defined instincts as actions which "produce certain ends, without foresight of the ends, and
without previous education in the performance". William James believed that the instincts that were essential to live were love, anger, cleanliness, fear and shame.
On January 11, 1842, William James was born in New York City to parents who strove to provide their children with a rich education. He graduated Harvard Medical School in 186, and returned in 1875 to teach psychology. William James established the first psychology lab in the United States in the same year.
Knowing that James' instinct theory states that instincts influence and drive our behaviors, it forces us to think before we act. Instincts are difficult but important to control because they lead to behaviors that are not the result of learning or prior experience.
Reasons for research
What led William James to his research?
All natural goods perish. Riches take wings; fame is a breath; love is a cheat; youth and health and pleasure vanish.
William James studied with Hermann von Helmholtz who led James to his interest in psychology. James was also influenced by Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection.
CITATION SLIDE
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What did he do?
http://psychology.about.com/od/motivation/a/instinct-theory-of-motivation.htm
http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/jamesbio.htm
http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/phil/philo/phils/wjames.html
William James' work
William James did not perform any experiments related to his Instinct theory of motivation. He mainly attended clinics, laboratory lectures, and universities speaking to psychologists and scientists