This is a summary of a story by Susan R. Miller on Trinity College of Arts and Sciences .
Even children who are afraid of spiders, snakes, or other creatures may still feel a strong connection to nature. New research by Vanessa Woods, a research scientist in Duke's Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, suggests the natural world doesn't inspire every child in the same way.
The findings, published Oct. 30 in Frontiers in Psychology, challenge what's referred to as the biophilia hypothesis, which suggests that humans possess an innate and universal affinity for nature.
To investigate, researchers studied 295 children ages 3 to 13 at the North Carolina Zoo and the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Children completed assessments measuring both fear of animals and attraction to biodiverse environments.
The results showed that fear and fascination are not mutually exclusive. Children frightened by spiders, snakes, or insects often remained just as interested in gardens, wildlife experiences, and other biodiverse settings as their less fearful peers.
"We found that this fear could coexist with an attraction to the natural world in general," Woods said. "So it didn't really affect their attraction to biodiversity."
Researchers say this suggests that attraction to nature and fear of specific animals may be distinct psychological systems that evolved to balance curiosity and caution. The study also found significant variation among children across cultures, supporting the idea that affinity for nature exists on a spectrum rather than as a universal trait.
The findings could influence conservation outreach and environmental education by encouraging more personalized approaches to engaging young people with nature.
Woods is already exploring future research opportunities with Duke Gardens to better understand how children respond to different levels of biodiversity. "I think it'd be really interesting just to see where kids go and what they're attracted to, and how they interact with different things that they're afraid of or nervous about."
To learn more about the research, visit Trinity College of Arts and Sciences .
