Psychology MCAT Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide for Aspiring Psychologists.

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What does it mean when a behavior shows instinctual drift?

Learned behaviors are forgotten

Conditioned responses revert to instinctual behaviors

When a behavior shows instinctual drift, it refers to the phenomenon where conditioned responses, which have been learned through reinforcement or training, begin to revert back to the original instinctual behaviors that were present before any learning occurred. For example, an animal that has been trained to perform a particular behavior for a reward may begin to show its natural, instinctive behaviors instead of the conditioned response when the situation arises. This drift indicates that while learning can modify behavior, innate instincts can still emerge and influence actions when the learned behaviors are challenged or when certain conditions are met.

This concept is particularly significant in understanding the interplay between learned behaviors and innate predispositions in operant conditioning scenarios. It highlights the limitations of behavioral training when instincts are strong.

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Responses become indistinguishable from instincts

Learning takes place without any reward

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