Still beats the basic core instinct of fear since being alive is the primary target of life and can be observed across all species on this planet. Reproduction comes only next.
Interesting you should mention that... One of the things I've learned about and know the physiology of is adrenaline vs. noradrenaline responses. Adrenaline responses turn you into the incredible hulk in a crisis situation-able to do a lot of damage or run like hell. Noradrenaline responses cause you to freeze and go immobile, become numb, shut down. You will not feel pain normally, physical or mental. Two kickers: One-you really don't control the response. Whether you believe in free will from a philosphical perspective or not, that's a physiological reality. A switch is flipped on the instant and your body reacts without conscious direction. Two-if you have a pattern of reacting in one way or the other that pattern is more likely to assert. That's why a lot of crime victims of all sorts don't fight back, even ones trained to fight...the noradrenaline system flipped into gear, they went numb and co-operated. Not their fault. Exactly...maddening, isn't it?
