Human Instinct

46min

Documentary

Professor Robert Winston presents a series investigating the natural instincts inherent in people, covering survival, procreation, the drive to succeed and the heroic impulse.

Episodes

Cast

Born To Survive

1. Born To Survive

46min

23rd Oct 2002

In this edition, he reveals that our instincts are honed to survive in a world far riskier than the one we inhabit today, and that this is why we often crave food high in calories, reject food that could be poisonous, and react to primeval dangers such as snakes.

Deepest Desires

2. Deepest Desires

46min

30th Oct 2002

Professor Robert Winston explores the complex world of sexual attraction, investigating why men are more open to casual sex, what drives women to be unfaithful and what can ignite male sexual jealousy.

The Will to Win

3. The Will to Win

46min

6th Nov 2002

Professor Robert Winston examines human instincts and patterns of behaviour. He explores the drive to succeed, looking at how different chemicals are released into the brain when we win or lose, and learning about the impact of being a younger sibling on behaviour patterns.

Natural Born Heroes

4. Natural Born Heroes

46min

13th Nov 2002

In this last programme, Professor Robert Winston discovers why we do so much for friends and family, and will even risk our lives for complete strangers, often on split-second instinct.

First air date

23rd Oct 2002

Last air date

13th Nov 2002

Status

Ended

Type

Documentary

Original language

en

Networks