# Is there a specific term in animal psychology for the event of protective instructs kicking?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 27, 2018, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340 "2018-08-27T08:01:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2018, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340/1 "2018-08-27T08:01:29Z")
Hi
Is there a specific term in animal psychology for the event of protective instructs kicking in when bears feel that their cubs are threatened?
I look forward to your feedback.
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### Author:  [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2018, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340/2 "2018-08-27T08:08:12Z")
reported for forum change
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### Author:  [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2018, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340/3 "2018-08-27T08:53:25Z")
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### Author:  [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2018, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340/4 "2018-08-27T10:15:06Z")
**Moderator Action**
Moving thread from ATMB to GQ.
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### Author:  [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2018, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340/5 "2018-08-27T10:17:38Z")
> [@davidmich](#):
>
> … protective instructs …
A correction: that should be **instincts**.
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### Author:  [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2018, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340/6 "2018-08-27T10:20:45Z")
I assume you mean instincts, not instructs.
If so, an instinct doesn’t have much to do with psychology, instincts are hardwired in. Cubs threatened --\> protective measures isn’t all that different than hunger --\> search for food.
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### Author:  [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2018, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340/7 "2018-08-27T10:32:16Z")
Yes sorry autocorrect bungled the word.
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### Author:  [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2018, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340/8 "2018-08-27T11:18:31Z")
Maternal aggression:
> **[Hormone Found Linked to Mother's Protective Instincts](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hormone-found-linked-to-m/)**
>
> Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.
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### Author:  [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2018, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340/9 "2018-08-27T13:51:23Z")
While I have never seen that instinct in action, there are other non-aggressive instincts that can also kick in. I was walking my dog in the woods and saw a sow with 2 cubs on the trail about 50 feet ahead of me. She had heard me coming and had stopped and turned around to face me. When I saw her I stopped dead in my tracks. She then nudged her cubs up a large nearby tree, took a defensive position at the base and waited for my next move. I took out my bear spray anticipating a bluff or real charge and backed away slowly with my eyes constantly watching her. She stayed in her position and I found another way back to the road. My keen-eyed Jack Russell terrier who routinely chases bears off my property missed the whole thing.
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### Author:  [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specific-term-in-animal-psychology-for-the-event-of-protective-instructs-kicking/820340/10 "2018-08-27T16:27:16Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#):
>
> Maternal aggression:
>
> [Hormone Found Linked to Mother's Protective Instincts | Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hormone-found-linked-to-m/)
Thanks Sage Rat. I had seen the article but hadn’t read it. Thanks for that.
Thank you all.