Primal Patterns of Behavior

Dr. C. George Boeree


John and Mary

A typical American couple

John and Mary picked out a lot in suburbia (1) and had a nice two-story house built on it (2).  They have since moved in and made it a real home, with their own furniture, decoration, landscaping, and so on (3).  They keep their home neat and clean, and are especially proud of their fancy master bathroom, with jacuzzi (4).  They put up a fence to keep their dog in and their neighbor's kids out, and have installed burgler and fire alarm systems (5).  They even had a nice mailbox sign made-up that says, in gold lettering, "The Smiths" (6).  They like their town and spend some leisure time taking scenic drives (7) and frequenting their favorite "watering holes" (8).

Both John and Mary work (9) -- they are "yuppies" -- and although they like their work, they would have to confess that their true goal is to make a "killing" in the market (10).  They bring home (11) quite a bit of money every week, and they have considerable investments and a sizable "nest egg" (12).  Their jobs are demanding, the business world being highly competitive and "dog-eat-dog" (13).  When they finalize a profitable deal, they like to celebrate afterwards (14).  But they've also had their share of failures, and have had to skulk off with their "tails between their legs" (15).

They have quite a few friends at work (16) and like to get together (17).  Most of these friends are people of their own status, because it's hard to be comfortable with someone who is your boss or who works for you (18).  But they are polite people, and are always pleased to see an acquaintance (19).  An attractive, well-groomed couple (20), John and Mary dated for about a year (21).  They soon became a "serious item" and finally got married (22).  They are thinking about having children (23), but are concerned that they will need to move if they want to provide their children with the best possible environment (24).


The Komodo Dragon


[image from http://www.lazoo.org/closeup.html]

An eight-foot lizard with a brain the size of a walnut:  Basic instincts

1.    Selection and preparation of homesite
2.    Establishment of territory
3.    Marking of territory
4.    Use of defecation posts
5.    Patrolling territory
6.    Ritualistic display in defense of territory, commonly involving the use of coloration and adornments
7.    Trail making
8.    Showing place preferences
9.    Forgaging
10.  Hunting
11.  Homing
12.  Hoarding
13.  Formalized intraspecific fighting in defense of territory
14.  Triumphal display in successful defense
15.  Assumption of distinctive postures and coloration in signaling surrender
16.  Formation of social groups
17.  Flocking
18.  Establishment of social hierarchy by ritualistic display and other means
19.  Greeting
20.  Grooming
21.  Courtship, with displays using coloration and adornments
22.  Mating
23.  Breeding and, in isolated instances, attending offspring
24.  Migration

Is there a komodo dragon inside YOU?