Is it a realistic aim to deny a human being one of his/her most basic instincts?

Answer 1

That depends on the instinct in question. Is it generally beneficial or harmful, both, or neither? As a species, our evolution has tended to charge us with the responsibility of suppressing some of our instincts, eliminating some, and controlling some, in the interest of our advancement and general well being. It can be done. Whether or not it is a good idea depends on the circumstances.

Answer 2

I see the question as a double edged sword.
Sex is a basic instinct. If she or he is involved in incest, necrophilia, or bestiality? What then. It's a basic instinct involving sex!
I think it is a more realistic aim to teach someone to rise above our base nature. To over come our basic instincts for the welfare of their community, but more for themselves.
We have a basic instinct to feed ourselves, should we rob stores, for a living? That isn't an unreasonable question. Everywhere in the States alone, men and women do that!
In small manners as well as huge thefts. But a man's gotta live right? Stealing from whomever is all right because of our basic instincts?
We cannot deny the basic instincts of anyone else, when it is within reason. I. E. earns a honest living for the basics of life, like food, clothing, and shelter.
But where do we draw the line on other instincts? Who decides? How are the final decisions enforced?

Answer 3

Never realistic at all...and it's wrong. Humans are just like any other animal, they have instincts and their base desires need to be filled.
That's like the people that don't want to have sex until they're 30 and married because it's "wrong"...but all their instincts are telling them to. I've seen plenty of unbalanced human beings with psycological problems simply because they tried to force themselves to be "right" by society and deny themselves of their human nature.

Answer 4

No, it shouldn't be a realistic aim in any situation. You didn't specify what basic instinct but the one that comes to mind is self preservation. Someone like Ted Bundy denied his murder victims their basic instinct to stay alive. I hope this isn't what you're referring to!!....tink

Answer 5

A story I read in the paper about 6 years ago was about a mother that found and killed her daughters rapist. In fact, I think there was a movie about it. That mother got life in prison. NO LAW IN THE WORLD has the right to tell a parent they can't defend their children, that has been the most primal instinct since the dawn of man. I wouldn't know how to go about answering this right just because its a 2 way street ya know? On the one hand, I'd kill anyone who harmed my baby, but then my baby would have to go thru life without me. How is that fair? Our system won't do anything but they won't allow us to do anythin either. I can't remember what country it is, but somewhere in like Iran or something, if a woman is raped, her attacker is put in front of a firing squad that consists of her male relatives....NOW THAT'S JUSTICE!!!!!!!!!!! America, Land of the "almost free"!!

Answer 6

The only reason I can imagine doing this is if the "basic instinct" is one which would hurt others, such as the basic instinct for murder, for domestic violence... or is one which is illegal, such as for sex with inappropriate objects such as children or dead people, etc. If it is an exaggeration of a basic instinct, such as an addiction to food, that could be realistic for medical reasons, for example.

In either case, yes. You can keep the basic instinct and modify it, by doing alternative activities to satisfy it, in ways which do not hurt others, are not illegal, or do not hurt you. It may take creativity or asking others for advice.

For example, for murder/ aggression, attack objects you own or are unimportant to others...like an axe to firewood. For sexual urges, satisfy them by yourself, in private. For food, substitute healthy or allowed foods or sugar-free chewing gum. Things like that. People have done those things successfully, for eons. You can do it, if it's necessary enough.

Answer 7

I don't think so but what is the most basic human instincts? I know, its to live and survive.

Answer 8

To some extent, yes. For example, society does it every day by telling us that we should be monogamous -- but we all know how well that works.

It can be done, but you've got to have a lot of control over that human being and even then it's difficult.

Answer 9

I don't think humans should be denied the right to eat.

Answer 10

Obviously, it depends on what that "basic instinct" is?