Do humans have instincts? and often introduces rather annoying information distortions into society. So, I was suddenly surprised to discover that the concepts instinct and reflex, simple and understandable since the days of school biology, for some reason have acquired a range of strange sounds on today’s Internet. The question would not be worth a serious conversation - what is the point of arguing about terms. But, unfortunately, our subconscious has the ability to attach associations to words, separating words from their meanings. And as a result, I came across quite serious debates - unfortunately, not at all scientific - for example, on the topic of female psychology. Which were based on the fact that in the current usage of the word “instinct”, apparently, this concept is understood as an innate form of behavior that stands above consciousness. Completely controlling behavior. As a result, the very idea that people have instincts is denied. Significantly distorting those hypotheses in which the word instinct is actually used in a different context. So. It seems to me that there will be much less confusion if we understand the words instinct and reflex in their standard biological understanding. Instinct is an innate pattern of behavior that is inherited. She doesn't need to study. A reflex is a rigid behavioral pattern acquired during life. All. There is no need to put any other meaning into these words. So. Does a person have reflexes? Yes. Essentially, most of our behavioral skills are reflexes. Moreover, even our psychic, mental reactions often have the same reflex nature. And the very essence of learning is a process that is basically based on the processes described by Pavlov. Do we have instincts? The baby takes the breast; there is no need to teach him this. Women gave birth long before the advent of medicine - and somehow they understood what needed to be done? When having sex for the first time, even the most wild and abandoned teenagers somehow manage to quickly figure out what, where and how. These are instinctive reactions. I deliberately do not give a list of human instincts. I agree that this issue is very controversial. Determining which behavioral pattern came with genes and which was acquired usually turns out to be a very difficult task. But humans have instincts - the body needs them, like BIOS for computers and axioms for science. As a basis on which everything else can be built... At the same time, it is very similar to the truth that, at least potentially, both instincts and reflexes can be controlled by a person. Consciously or unconsciously, in the process of getting used to new conditions. This is explained by the fact that the human psyche is a powerful adaptation mechanism. Constantly working. And new behavioral patterns are created using information from past patterns. But at the same time, new ones overlap with the past ones (roughly speaking, we know how to relearn). As a result, new schemes will take into account the presence of instinct, but are not obliged to follow it (I will react to a sexy woman. But it is in my power not to attack her). It is also a very important point that in people instincts are determined rather only by needs and general patterns of reaction to them . Given that, to a large extent, specific behavior is determined by training (upbringing). For those who are closer to the academic style of presentation of information, I found a very worthy article on the same topic on the website: https://www.b17.ru/article/features_of_the_functioning_of