Self-preservation is behavior that ensures the survival of an organism. It is universal among living organisms. In some vertebrates, pain

Pain

Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...

 and fear

Fear

Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger...

 are parts of this mechanism. Pain causes discomfort so that the organism is inclined to stop the pain. 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 also

• Antipredator adaptation
• Dear enemy recognition
  Dear enemy recognition
  In ethology, dear enemy recognition is a situation in which a territorial animal responds more strongly to strangers than to its neighbors from adjacent territories. This phenomenon may be generally advantageous to an animal because it minimizes time and energy spent on territorial defense, and...
  
  
• Outline of self