19.3k views
1 vote
What is the term that suggests that humans may be "hardwired" to attend to animals and the natural world?

User Adibender
by
7.4k points

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

The term suggesting that humans have an innate tendency to be connected with the natural world and animals is known as biophilia.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term you are referring to is biophilia, which suggests that humans are hardwired to be drawn to the natural world, including animals. This concept was popularized by the American biologist and naturalist E. O. Wilson.

The hypothesis argues that because of our evolutionary history, humans have innate affinities for nature and have developed certain psychological benefits from being in contact with biodiversity and living systems.

Our long-term relationship with this planet and its ecosystems is rooted in our nature.

Environmental factors and cultural pressures may shape our behaviors and attitudes, but underlying those are evolutionary adaptations that foster our connections to life around us.

This innate behavior is supported by the continuous significance of animals and the natural environment in human belief systems, cultural symbols, and companionship.

Anthropological and biological understanding acknowledges that humans and animals share a deep interconnectedness, evident in historical artifacts such as cave paintings and modern practices like pet-keeping, that underscores the embeddedness of our species within the wider web of life.

User Thenosic
by
7.8k points