It seems to me that actually self-awareness and instinct are mutually exclusive. Species with good instincts don't need self-awareness, so they don't develop it. Humanity's intelligence allows it to modify the environment to such an extent that the instincts of a hunter-gatherer mammal are no longer applicable, requiring the development of the ability to conceptualize the environment, and oneself in relation to it, in order to solve problems instinctive behavior is unable to resolve.