Animalistically: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word combines 'animal', derived from the Latin 'animalis', meaning 'having breath', and the suffix '-istically', suggesting manner or style.
• This term emerged from early discussions in biology and philosophy about the nature of life and instincts in living beings.

Evolutionary Biology

• Many behaviors exhibited by humans trace back to primal instincts crucial for survival, such as fight-or-flight responses.
• Understanding animal behavior helps scientists draw parallels to human actions, revealing our shared heritage.
• The study of ethology, which focuses on animal behavior, highlights how instinct plays a critical role in survival strategies.

Psychology

• The concept ties into theories of basic human drives, such as aggression and sexuality, as seen in evolutionary psychology.
• Freud’s psychoanalytic theory suggested that some human behaviors are deeply tied to our unconscious animalistic instincts.
• Behavioral psychologists often study how instinct and learned behaviors interact in humans and animals alike.

Literature

• Writers like Jack London often portrayed characters who are driven by raw instincts and primal nature, showing a contrast to civilized behaviors.
• In literature, the phrase can describe motifs where characters revert to basic instincts, highlighting struggles against societal norms.

Pop Culture

• In movies and TV shows, characters often exhibit 'animalistic' traits during pivotal moments of stress, representing raw human nature.
• The popularity of survival shows and documentaries reflects an interest in seeing how close humans can get to their primal instincts.