hunting instinct
Drive to pursue
Hunting instinct is the inborn drive in predatory animals to pursue, chase, and capture prey.
The term appears most often in discussions of domestic dogs and cats, whose hunting instinct persists despite regular feeding: The terrier's hunting instinct kicked in when it spotted the squirrel.
Extended to humans, it describes a primal urge to pursue goals or compete aggressively.
- ambushingSurprise attack from concealment
- pouncingLeaping to attack
- stalkingStealthy, persistent pursuit
- chasingFollowing to catch
- cat and mouseProlonged pursuit game
carnivory · bloodlust · predation · primal · atavistic · animal instincts · fight or flight · scavenging · prey drive · camouflage · survival mechanisms · ferocity · blood sport · trapping · circling · on the prowl · scent tracking · sniffing
- dog traitsloyal, friendly, loyalty, devoted, playful
- instinctssurvival instincts, protective instincts, primal urge, fight-or-flight, fight or flight
- predator traitssharp teeth, sharp claws, fangs, claws, talons
- primal instinctsprimal, feral, savage, predator, prey
- raptor traitshooked beak, sharp talons, keen eyesight, binocular vision, carnivorous
- dominance displaysdisplay, alpha behavior, power stance, chest puffing, baring teeth
hunting instinctnurturing instinct
Innate urge to protect
maternal instinct · protective instinct · nesting instinct · herd instinct · herding instinct
hunting instinctlearned behavior
Action acquired through experience
conditioned response · trained response · cultural conditioning · habituation · education