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neophobia
noun: neo·pho·bia ˌnē-ə-ˈfō-bē-ə
dread of or aversion to novelty
I’ve had a number of conversations recently that reveal just how rampant misinformation is. A half dozen people have insisted, when I share that I’m currently shopping for an electric vehicle to replace my constantly-breaking-down ICE vehicle, that EVs won’t work in the winter. “Really? I typically reply. “That’s news to the more than 80% of Norwegians who drive electric.”
But there’s something else going on, something that allows misinformation to take root so effectively. Humans tend to be wary of anything new. On the one hand, of course, we’re easily bored, scrolling our phones in search of novelty.
But when it comes to bigger change, we’re resistant, especially to new technologies and advancements. Witness the hesitation to embrace lab-grown meat, GMOs, the mRNA Covid vaccine, and, of course, AI (though I confess that AI has yet to convince me it’s a positive thing).
There’s nothing wrong, of course, with skepticism, with wanting as much information as possible to help us make good, safe choices.
The problem arises when we dismiss good, evidence-based, climate-forward innovations because they feel unfamiliar, or even a bit scary, perhaps. George Monbiot, in an attempt to persuade people to open their minds to precision fermentation, what he calls “the most important environmental technology ever created,” said that “The real sticking point, I believe, is neophobia. I know people who won’t own a microwave oven, as they believe it will damage their health (it doesn’t), but who do own a wood burning stove, which does. We defend the old and revile the new. Much of the time, it should be the other way around.”
Next time you find yourself reflexively dismissing a new innovation, pause for a moment and consider: Am I leery based on solid information that makes me legitimately doubt, or am I, like my ancestors before me who scoffed at planes, at computers, at microwaves, simply engaging in neophobia?
