What does self-preservation mean?

Definitions for self-preservation
self-preser·va·tion

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word self-preservation.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. self-preservationnoun

    preservation of yourself from harm; a natural or instinctive tendency

Wiktionary

  1. self-preservationnoun

    The instinctive behaviour that protects oneself from harm

Wikipedia

  1. Self-preservation

    Self-preservation is a behavior or set of behaviors that ensures the survival of an organism. It is thought to be universal among all living organisms. For sentient organisms, pain and fear are integral parts of this mechanism. Pain motivates the individual to withdraw from damaging situations, to protect a damaged body part while it heals, and to avoid similar experiences in the future. Most pain resolves promptly once the painful stimulus is removed and the body has healed, but sometimes pain persists despite removal of the stimulus and apparent healing of the body; and sometimes pain arises in the absence of any detectable stimulus, damage or disease. Fear causes the organism to seek safety and may cause a release of adrenaline, which has the effect of increased strength and heightened senses such as hearing, smell, and sight. Self-preservation may also be interpreted figuratively, in regard to the coping mechanisms one needs to prevent emotional trauma from distorting the mind (see Defence mechanisms). Even the most simple of living organisms (for example, the single-celled bacteria) are typically under intense selective pressure to evolve a response that would help avoid a damaging environment, if such an environment exists. Organisms also evolve while adapting – even thriving – in a benign environment (for example, a marine sponge modifies its structure in response to current changes, in order to better absorb and process nutrients). Self-preservation is therefore an almost universal hallmark of life. However, when introduced to a novel threat, many species will have a self-preservation response either too specialised, or not specialised enough, to cope with that particular threat. An example is the dodo, which evolved in the absence of natural predators and hence lacked an appropriate, general self-preservation response to heavy predation by humans and rats, showing no fear of them. Self-preservation is essentially the process of an organism preventing itself from being harmed or killed and is considered a basic instinct in most organisms. Most call it a "survival instinct". Self-preservation is thought to be tied to an organism's reproductive fitness and can be more or less present according to perceived reproduction potential. If perceived reproductive potential is low enough, self-destructive behavior (i.e., the opposite) is not uncommon in social species. Self-preservation is also thought by some to be the basis of rational and logical thought and behavior.

ChatGPT

  1. self-preservation

    Self-preservation refers to the instinctual behaviors, actions, and characteristics that living organisms exhibit to protect themselves from harm or death. This includes both physical measures for immediate survival and psychological strategies for long-term well-being and continuity of existence.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Self-preservationnoun

    the preservation of one's self from destruction or injury

Wikidata

  1. Self-preservation

    Self-preservation is behavior that ensures the survival of an organism. It is almost universal among living organisms. Pain and fear are parts of this mechanism. Pain motivates the individual to withdraw from damaging situations, to protect a damaged body part while it heals, and to avoid similar experiences in the future. Most pain resolves promptly once the painful stimulus is removed and the body has healed, but sometimes pain persists despite removal of the stimulus and apparent healing of the body; and sometimes pain arises in the absence of any detectable stimulus, damage or disease. Fear causes the organism to seek safety and may cause a release of adrenaline, which has the effect of increased strength and heightened senses such as hearing, smell, and sight. Self-preservation may also be interpreted figuratively; in regard to the coping mechanisms one needs to prevent emotional trauma from distorting the mind Even the most simple of living organisms are typically under intense selective pressure to evolve a response to avoid a damaging environment, if such an environment exists. Organisms also evolve while adapting - even thriving - in a benign environment.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of self-preservation in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of self-preservation in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of self-preservation in a Sentence

  1. Christina Richey:

    Institutions appear to be more worried about self-preservation than about their most vulnerable members, it's understandable from a financial standpoint, frankly, but when we don't see notorious harassers being fired or suffering any adverse consequences, we are less confident that complaints will be heard and adjudicated fairly. Then there are fewer complaints and less enforcement.

  2. William Blackstone:

    And, lastly, to vindicate these rights, when actually violated and attacked, the subjects of England are entitled, in the first place, to the regular administration and free course of justice in the courts of law; next to the right of petitioning the king and parliament for redress of grievances; and, lastly, to the right of having and using arms for self preservation and defense.

  3. World Rugby:

    I don't know what nations specifically. What I can tell you is that it's self-preservation, they look at emerging nations in 10 years' time and carrying on [ to grow ] because of the sizes of the countries [... ] That sometimes gives other teams a bit of a self-preservation attitude. Again, that's politics and that's something that has to be resolved by World Rugby.

  4. Aloo Denish Obiero:

    Nurturing the environment is an ultimate act of self-preservation.

  5. Parishioner Olha Mazurets:

    It’s a matter of identity and self-preservation. We must identify our enemy too.


Translations for self-preservation

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"self-preservation." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/self-preservation>.

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