self-preservation
Protecting one's existence
Self-preservation is the instinct or drive to protect oneself from harm or death.
It operates as a basic biological imperative across species, but in humans often extends to psychological and social survival: Self-preservation kicked in and she ran.
The term appears in discussions of ethics and emergency situations where helping others might endanger oneself: His self-preservation instincts overrode any impulse to intervene.
Acute threat reaction
- adrenalineEmergency response hormone
- reflexInvoluntary stimulus response
- hardwiredPermanently connected by wires
- evolutionaryPertaining to gradual biological change
primal · involuntary · automatic · primitive · ancestral · innate · biological · startle
State of health, contentment
- healthCondition of body, mind
- self-lovePrioritizing your own worth
- self-respectValuing one's own worth
- dignityInnate personal worth
self-worth · boundaries · autonomy · sanity · balance · wholeness · self-interest · limits
Guarding against harm
- shieldingProtecting from harm
- guardingActively protecting something
- armorProtective combat covering
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
barricade · resistance · sanctuary · refuge · bulwark · bastion · bunker · stronghold
Sustained effort capacity
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
adapting · evasion · escape · rationing · foraging · provisions · shelter · sustenance
State of keen awareness
- precautionPreventive safety measure
- warinessCautious distrust
- alertnessActive mental awareness
- circumspectionCareful consideration of consequences
prudence · foresight · avoidance · hesitation · distrust · boundaries · self-protection
fight-or-flight
Acute threat reaction
- adrenalineEmergency response hormone
- reflexInvoluntary stimulus response
- hardwiredPermanently connected by wires
evolutionary · primal · involuntary · automatic · primitive · ancestral · innate · biological · startle · hypervigilance
well-being
State of health, contentment
- healthCondition of body, mind
- self-lovePrioritizing your own worth
- self-respectValuing one's own worth
dignity · self-worth · boundaries · autonomy · sanity · balance · wholeness · self-interest · limits · restoration
protection
Guarding against harm
fortification · barricade · resistance · sanctuary · refuge · bulwark · bastion · bunker · stronghold · self-defense
endurance
Sustained effort capacity
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
fortitude · adapting · evasion · escape · rationing · foraging · provisions · shelter · sustenance · hardiness
vigilance
State of keen awareness
- precautionPreventive safety measure
- warinessCautious distrust
- alertnessActive mental awareness
circumspection · prudence · foresight · avoidance · hesitation · distrust · boundaries · self-protection
- instinctsinstinct, survival instinct, survival instincts, maternal instinct, gut instinct
- motivationsambition, drive, desire, goal, goals
- self-defenseself-defense, martial arts, self-protection, karate, pepper spray
- political philosophypolitical philosophy, political theory, political thought, social contract, natural rights
- defense mechanismsdenial, projection, repression, suppression, displacement
- safety mindsetcaution, vigilance, awareness, prevention, preparedness
self-preservationself-destruction
Deliberately causing one's downfall
suicide · self-annihilation · martyrdom · self-harm · death wish
self-preservationself-sacrifice
Surrendering for others' benefit
altruism · selflessness · martyrdom · heroic sacrifice · self-abnegation
self-preservationrecklessness
Careless disregard for danger
foolhardiness · reckless abandon · throwing caution to the wind · daredevilry · carelessness
preserve, preserved, conservative, conservation, preservation, conserve, preserves, preserving, conservatory