Veblen in Plain English: A Complete Introduction to Thorstein Veb ...

Chapter 1

Instincts

Veblen saw people as active agents. They have “propensities and habits which seek realisation and expression in unfolding activity” [Veblen, 1919, 74]. In other words, people have purposes which go beyond a simple pleasure-pain calculation. Even in the absence of external stimulation, people will “do something.” They have innate tendencies that cause them to act.

Veblen defined instincts as “the innate and persistent propensities of human nature” [1914, 2]. They are “irreducible traits of human nature” [Ibid. 3]. Veblen was uncomfortable with the word “instinct.” He said that the word “is of too imprecise a character to serve the needs of an exhaustive psychological analysis” [Ibid. 2]. Veblen used the word instinct because it comes closer than other words to capturing his meaning. It should be stressed that instincts should not be confused with what are more accurately called “tropisms.” Tropisms are reflexive actions that involve no thought. An example would be pulling one’s hand away from a hot stove. In contrast, instincts involve consciousness and provide the basic purposes behind human action.