What Is Instinctive Drift In Psychology? Key Facts

Instinctive drift is the tendency for an animal to revert to its natural, instinctive behaviors over learned behaviors, even when the learned behavior has been reinforced. This concept is central to understanding the limits of classical and operant conditioning. It demonstrates that biology and genetics can override what an animal has been trained to do.

What Is Instinctive Drift In Psychology?

Instinctive drift is a term in psychology that describes what happens when a trained behavior gives way to an animal’s natural instincts. It occurs when an animal has learned a new response through conditioning, but then falls back to its innate, biological behaviors instead. This usually happens when the learned behavior is similar to, but not exactly the same as, a natural instinct.

For example, a raccoon can be trained to place coins into a piggy bank. The training reinforces this behavior with food. Over time, the raccoon will stop placing the coins and instead start rubbing them together and dipping them in water. This is not the raccoon being difficult. It is the animal reverting to its natural food-washing behavior, which is an instinctive drift.

Who Discovered Instinctive Drift?

The concept was introduced by two researchers, Keller Breland and Marian Breland, in 1961. They were students of the famous psychologist B.F. Skinner, who pioneered operant conditioning. The Brelands used Skinner’s methods to train animals for commercial exhibits, including chickens, raccoons, and pigs.

They published their findings in an article titled “The Misbehavior of Organisms.” The title was a direct nod to Skinner’s book, “The Behavior of Organisms.” In their work, they documented that animals often failed to maintain trained behaviors. The animals would drift back to instinctive patterns that interfered with the task they had been taught.

What Is the Mechanism Behind Instinctive Drift?

Instinctive drift happens because of the relationship between learned behavior and biological drives. In operant conditioning, an animal learns to associate a behavior with a reward. However, some behaviors are biologically programmed. These instinctive behaviors are tied to survival, such as foraging, feeding, and mating.

When a learned behavior closely resembles a natural instinct, the instinct can take over. The reward for the learned behavior is often food. This creates a conflict. The animal is trying to perform a task that involves food, but its instincts tell it to handle the food in a specific way. The instinct is so strong that it eventually overrides the learned response.

This does not mean conditioning is weak. It means that biological predispositions are powerful. The animal is not ignoring the training. It is responding to a deeper, evolutionary drive that cannot be easily suppressed.

What Are the Best Examples of Instinctive Drift?

The Brelands documented several clear examples of instinctive drift in their animal acts. These examples remain the standard illustrations of the concept.

• Raccoons and Coins: Raccoons were trained to pick up coins and deposit them into a metal bank. Over time, they began to rub the coins together and dip them into the bank as if they were washing food. This is a classic food-washing instinct in raccoons.
• Pigs and Tokens: Pigs were trained to pick up large wooden coins and drop them into a piggy bank. The pigs began to toss the coins into the air, root at them with their snouts, and push them along the ground. This is natural rooting and foraging behavior.
• Chickens and Tapping: Chickens were trained to tap a small disc for food. They began to scratch at the disc instead, which is a natural foraging behavior. The scratching became so intense that the chickens could not complete the trained task.
• Raccoons and Basketball: In another task, raccoons were taught to place a basketball into a hoop. They stopped and began to rub the ball and hold it, mimicking food-handling behaviors.

These examples show that the closer the learned behavior is to a natural instinct, the more likely drift will occur. The animals are not failing to learn. They are reverting to what their brains are wired to do.

Why Does Instinctive Drift Matter in Psychology?

Instinctive drift matters because it challenges the idea that any behavior can be conditioned with the right reinforcement. Early behaviorists believed that animals were blank slates, ready to be shaped by their environment. Instinctive drift proved this was not true.

The concept supports the idea of biological preparedness. This is the theory that animals are genetically predisposed to learn certain behaviors more easily than others. Some associations are easy to form, while others are nearly impossible, regardless of reinforcement.

This has practical implications for animal training. Trainers cannot simply rely on rewards to shape any behavior. They have to work with the animal’s natural instincts, not against them. If a behavior conflicts with a strong instinct, the instinct will likely win.

The concept also applies to human behavior. Humans have innate tendencies that can interfere with learned responses. For example, a person may be trained to respond calmly in stressful situations. However, the natural fight-or-flight response can override this training in a real emergency. This shows that instinctive drift is not just about animals. It is a fundamental principle of how learning interacts with biology.

How Does Instinctive Drift Differ From Extinction?

Instinctive drift is often confused with extinction, but they are different processes. Extinction happens when a learned behavior stops being reinforced. The behavior gradually fades away because the reward is no longer given.

Instinctive drift happens even when reinforcement continues. The animal is still receiving rewards for the learned behavior, but it stops performing it anyway. The instinct takes over despite the ongoing reinforcement. This is a key distinction. The behavior is not lost because of a lack of reward. It is lost because of a biological override.

In practical terms, extinction is a failure of reinforcement. Instinctive drift is a failure of conditioning to compete with biology. Both result in the loss of a learned behavior, but the causes are completely different.

What Is the Role of Instinctive Drift in Operant Conditioning?

Instinctive drift places a clear boundary on operant conditioning. Operant conditioning works well when the target behavior is neutral or aligns with natural behaviors. It works poorly when the target behavior directly conflicts with an instinct.

This is why some animal behaviors are easier to train than others. A dog can be easily trained to sit, because sitting is a natural posture. A dog is much harder to train to stay perfectly still while food is placed on its nose. The instinct to eat the food is too strong.

Researchers use this knowledge to design better training programs. They recognize that reinforcement is powerful, but it is not unlimited. Understanding instinctive drift helps psychologists and trainers predict which behaviors can be shaped and which are likely to fail.

How Is Instinctive Drift Relevant Today?

Instinctive drift remains relevant in modern psychology and animal behavior. It is a foundational concept in comparative psychology. It is also applied in animal training, zoo management, and even in the design of animal enrichment activities.

Modern animal trainers, such as those who work with marine mammals, are aware of instinctive drift. They design training sessions that avoid fighting natural instincts. For example, a dolphin is not trained to perform a behavior that conflicts with its need to surface for air. Trainers work with these natural behaviors to create reliable performances.

The concept is also used in applied behavior analysis. Professionals understand that some behaviors are easier to establish than others. This helps in setting realistic goals for behavior modification.