---
title: "Instinctive Drift — AP Psychology Definition & Exam Guide"
description: "Instinctive drift is when an animal slides back into instinctive behavior that overrides a trained response, exposing the limits of operant conditioning on the AP Psych exam."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/instinctive-drift"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Psychology"
---

# Instinctive Drift — AP Psychology Definition & Exam Guide

## Definition

It refers to the tendency of an animal to revert to instinctive behaviors that interfere with a conditioned response.

## Related Study Guides

- [4.1 Introduction to Learning](/ap-psych-revised/unit-4/intro-learning/study-guide/1DGsmPNwMd4hPoeXWZVu)

## Review

### Related Terms

- [Behaviorism](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/behaviorism): A theory of learning based on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning.
- Fixed Action Pattern (FAP): An instinctive behavioral sequence that is indivisible and runs to completion.
- [Classical Conditioning](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/classical-conditioning): A learning process where two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response initially elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.