Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Instinct Theory

Instinct Theory

Instinct theory proposes that innate biological instincts, like animal behavioral patterns, primarily drive human behavior. These instincts are inborn, not learned, and are fundamental to decision-making and action. Just as animals rely on instincts for critical survival functions such as migration, nest building, and defense, humans are also believed to exhibit behaviors rooted in evolutionary needs. For example, the instinct to reproduce motivates sexual behavior, while territorial instincts...

Preparedness and Phobias

Preparedness and Phobias

Human fear responses to certain stimuli, such as darkness, heights, deep water, and blood, can often arise despite the absence of direct negative experiences. This phenomenon is rooted in evolutionary psychology, which posits that humans have developed a predisposition to fear stimuli that historically posed significant survival threats. This predisposition, known as preparedness, suggests that early humans who developed a fear of potentially dangerous entities, such as venomous snakes and...

Instinctive Drift

Instinctive Drift

Instinctive drift refers to the tendency of animals to revert to their innate behaviors despite repeated reinforcement. Breland and Breland demonstrated this concept in an experiment with a raccoon. The raccoon was trained to pick up two coins and place them in a container in exchange for food. Initially, the raccoon learned to associate the coins with food, making them a conditioned stimulus or a substitute for food. However, over time, the raccoon became less willing to put the coins into the...

Reason and Intuition

Reason and Intuition

The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the brain can only use...

The Sympathetic Nervous System

The Sympathetic Nervous System

Jealousy in Romantic Relationships

Jealousy in Romantic Relationships

Jealousy is an instinctive yet socially complex emotion that arises when a close relationship is threatened. Its origins lie in both biological imperatives and sociocultural conditioning, making it a multifaceted psychological construct. Although universally experienced, the triggers and expressions of jealousy vary notably between individuals, especially across genders, due to evolutionary pressures and cultural influences.Gender Differences and Evolutionary TheoryEvolutionary theory explains...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The Effect of Tropical Climate on Physical and Mental Efficiency.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2009

Same journal

Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2010

Same journal

Hand-Schüller-Christian syndrome.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2010

Same journal

Lymphadenoma.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2010

Same journal

Cirrhosis and ascites (treated by omentopexy twelve years ago after investigation by thorium dioxide).

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2010

Same journal

Suppurative arthritis of right elbow following mastoiditis.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2010

Same journal

Meningococcal meningitis with suppurative arthritis.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2010

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat

Published on: September 12, 2014

The Danger Instincts.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine

|December 9, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Rivers' theory of "danger instincts" explains war neuroses by examining normal reactions to danger. Understanding these instincts is crucial for mental hygiene and preventing psychological distress in soldiers.

More Related Videos

Measuring Attentional Biases for Threat in Children and Adults

Measuring Attentional Biases for Threat in Children and Adults

Published on: October 19, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat

Published on: September 12, 2014

Measuring Attentional Biases for Threat in Children and Adults

Measuring Attentional Biases for Threat in Children and Adults

Published on: October 19, 2014

Area of Science:

Psychology
Military Medicine
Trauma Studies

Background:

War neuroses pose significant challenges to military personnel.
Understanding normal psychological responses to danger is essential for effective treatment and prevention.
Rivers' theory of "danger instincts" offers a framework for analyzing these responses.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore Rivers' theory of "danger instincts" as a means to understand and prevent war neuroses.
To analyze the causes of war neuroses, particularly the conflict between self-preservation and duty.
To apply this understanding to mental hygiene strategies for soldiers.

Main Methods:

Review and analysis of Rivers' theory on "danger instincts" (flight, aggression, manipulation, immobility).
Examination of evidence supporting Rivers' theories, including comparative severity of war neuroses in different military roles.
Application of theoretical insights to practical mental hygiene interventions.

Main Results:

Rivers' theory identifies key instinctual reactions to danger: flight, aggression, manipulation, and immobility.
Conflict between instinctual reactions and duty contributes to war neuroses.
Understanding normal danger responses aids in preparing soldiers, preventing repression, and managing panic.

Conclusions:

Rivers' "danger instincts" theory provides a valuable framework for understanding and preventing war neuroses.
Knowledge of normal reactions to danger is critical for military mental hygiene and maintaining troop morale.
Distinguishing between cowardice and neurosis requires careful medical assessment.