Reality Encyclopedia

  This post shall be a short text; being written in response to a question: What is the difference between instinct and impulse? Let’s examine it in more detail. First, let’s define instinct. An instinct is an innate, typically fixed pattern of behavior in animals that occurs in response to external stimuli. For example, when a dog is wet, it will shake itself instinctively to dry itself off. The tendency is innate and does not occur as a result of environmental learning or conditioning. An instinct should not be mistaken for a reflex however, as, while this is also innate, it is a simple neural response. For example, the rutting reflex occurs in babies when an object is brushed against their cheek. The baby is reflexively searching for a nipple to suckle. In contrast, running when confronted with a bear is instinctual, as the resulting behavioral output is more complex, yet requires no previous learning. Next, let us define impulse. Simply put, an impulse is a wish or an urge. Whe...

  In the topic of self-help, there are few areas that individuals seek assistance for more than understanding and dealing with a narcissist. Annoying, toxic, pernicious, frustrating and hazardous to your mental health, narcissistic individuals are notorious for wreaking havoc into the lives of those around them. Worse still, is when the victim is the very brood of the narcissist themself. Indeed, children of narcissists often develop narcissistic tendencies, either through negligence on the part of the parent or through constant enmeshment and control. These parents are one of the most pernicious experiences that may befall a developing child. So how might one deal with a life sapping parent? Well, if we are to understand the solution, we must first examine the nature of the problem.  Personality Disorders Understanding narcissistic personality disorder, or NPD, it is essential to understand the dynamics of what constitutes a personality disorder, as this will lay the foundati...