1. Innate Behavior Decline: Detrioration of instincts can indicate a decrease in the expression or reliability of innate behaviors or responses. For example, animals might show diminished parental care, reduced ability to find food or shelter, or hindered migratory patterns. In humans, it could manifest as a decreased reliance on gut feelings, intuition, or impulsive actions.
2. Reduced Survival Skills: Deterioration of instincts can lead to a decline in the ability to survive in challenging or natural environments. Organisms might become less adept at detecting danger, finding suitable resources, or responding appropriately to threats or opportunities. This can be particularly relevant in species that heavily rely on innate behaviors for their survival.
3. Adaptive Behavior Loss: In some cases, deterioration of instincts might occur due to changes in the environment or lifestyle that make certain instincts less necessary. For example, modern humans might have reduced reliance on certain senses or survival skills that were more crucial in ancestral environments due to technological advancements and infrastructure.
4. Cognitive and Learned Behaviors: As learning and cognitive abilities develop in certain species, reliance on instincts might decrease as individuals learn new strategies, problem-solving skills, or cultural behaviors that replace or override instinctive responses.
It's important to note that deterioration of instincts doesn't necessarily imply their complete disappearance but rather a reduction or change in their influence on behavior. Instincts are often intertwined with other cognitive and learned capacities, and their contribution to behavior may vary depending on the context, species, and individual circumstances.