The allure of the unknown in a tamed, mapped, and homogenized world. (18th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gabora, Liane; Gomez, Isabel
• Is Part Of: Behavioral and brain sciences. Volume 45(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-18
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X21002193
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-525X

Abstract

Abstract: As the physical world becomes tamed and mapped out, opportunities to experience the unknown become rarer; imaginary worlds provide a much-needed sense of potentiality. Potentiality is central to the Self-Other Re-organization theory of cultural evolution, which postulates that creativity fuels cumulative cultural change. We point to evidence that fear affects, not the magnitude of exploration, but how cautiously it proceeds.