Humanizing the coronavirus as an invisible enemy is human nature
Thinking of SARS-CoV-2 as an invisible enemy with an evil personality and humanlike motivations is a natural offshoot of the way people evolved to anthropomorphize so as not to overlook threats.
Stewart Guthrie, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Fordham University
• conversation
May 22, 2020 • ~7 min
May 22, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: covid-19 coronavirus anthropology sars-cov-2 viruses cognitive-science faces anthropomorphism david-hume cognitive-psychology
Social distancing increased over the course of human history – but so did empathy and new ways to connect
People have changed over time, growing ever more distant and isolated from others – while at the same time finding new ways and technologies that let individuals connect and feel with others.
Fritz Breithaupt, Provost Professor in Cognitive Science and Germanic Studies, Indiana University, Indiana University
• conversation
April 8, 2020 • ~7 min
April 8, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: human-evolution social-distancing social-connection cognitive-science empathy novels evolutionary-psychology grooming robert-koch social-ties
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