Summary: An increasing number of people experience fear, discomfort or disgust towards nature, a phenomenon known as biophobia. The findings reveal that negative emotions are shaped through external factors, such as urban environments and media representations, and internal factors, such as health and emotional traits.
Limited contact with nature can reinforce avoidance, reducing exposure to known physical and mental health benefits. Researchers suggest that early positive experiences with nature and greener urban spaces can help reverse this growing trend.
Key facts
Identified Biophobia: Fear and discomfort towards nature is increasing across all age groups and cultures. Multiple causes: urbanization, media narratives, personal traits, and reduced exposure contribute. Health Impact: Negative emotions toward nature limit well-being benefits and hinder conservation efforts.
Source: Lund University
Nature is a source of well-being and recovery for many people. However, research shows that there are also a growing number of people who experience negative emotions, such as fear, discomfort or even disgust, towards nature. The phenomenon, called biophobia, is now highlighted in a new study from Lund University.
“For a long time, research has assumed that people fundamentally feel positive emotions towards nature. We have examined the opposite, that is, when there is a negative relationship with nature, and we have gathered knowledge about how it arises, what consequences it has and how it can be reversed,” says Johan Kjellberg Jensen, researcher at Lund University and lead author of the study.
The study summarizes nearly 200 scientific articles from various research fields and is a systematic review. Research results from around the world, including studies conducted in Sweden, Japan, and the United States, have been compiled to provide a complete picture of biophobia.
The results show that negative emotions are determined by both external factors, such as our environment, exposure to nature, and media narratives, and internal factors, including emotional and health traits.
Researchers also see signs that our relationships with animals, plants, and nature in general are deteriorating over time. According to Johan Kjellberg Jensen, lack of contact with nature and limited knowledge about it can reinforce each other in a negative spiral.
“Urbanization combined with parental attitudes can increase negative feelings and perceptions of danger in nature among children, something that becomes particularly relevant as more and more children grow up in cities,” says Johan Kjellberg Jensen.
According to Jensen, contact with nature has well-documented health benefits, such as reducing stress and improving children’s school performance. The study shows that negative emotions can cause people to miss out on the health benefits of nature and also contribute to attitudes and behaviors that run counter to conservation and sustainability efforts. This may include an aversion to species that are in fact harmless or even beneficial to have around.
Johan Kjellberg Jensen hopes that this overview will give biophobia a clearer position in research and contribute to finding solutions. He argues that an important step is to increase our exposure to nature, for example by developing green spaces and strengthening biodiversity in cities, which can give children positive experiences with nature from an early age.
“The phenomenon of biophobia is broad and requires a diverse set of tools. In some cases, it is about increasing knowledge and contact with nature; in others, it could be about reducing points of conflict between humans and nature. We need to better understand the mechanisms behind negative emotions to reverse the trend,” concludes Johan Kjellberg Jensen.
Key questions answered:
A: Biophobia refers to negative emotions such as fear or discomfort toward nature, and is increasing due to urbanization, reduced exposure, and media representations that reinforce perceived danger.
A: People who avoid nature miss out on well-established benefits, such as reduced stress and improved cognitive functioning, and may also develop attitudes that run counter to conservation.
A: Increasing positive early experiences with nature, creating greener urban environments, and improving ecological understanding can help counteract biophobia over time.
Editorial notes:
This article was edited by a Neuroscience News editor. Magazine article reviewed in its entirety. Additional context added by our staff.
About this research news in biophobia and psychology
Author: Lotte billing
Source: Lund University
Contact: Lotte Billing – Lund University
Image: Image is credited to Neuroscience News.
Original research: Open access.
“Towards a unified understanding of people’s aversion to nature: biophobia” by Johan Kjellberg Jensen et al. Frontiers in ecology and environment
Abstract
Toward a unified understanding of people’s aversion to nature: biophobia
Human-nature relationships are often framed positively, but research rarely addresses biophobia, the aversion to nature. However, negative relationships with nature are likely to become more widespread following social and environmental changes, with serious implications for public health and conservation efforts.
Here, we conducted a systematic review of 196 studies on biophobia, revealing a fragmentation of knowledge across disciplines, including environmental sciences, psychology, and social sciences. To unify this research, we present a coherent framework that summarizes the drivers and consequences of biophobia, as well as treatments for it.
Based on the current body of evidence, understanding changes in human-nature dynamics will require greater interdisciplinary collaboration, greater attention to cultural and regional differences, and longitudinal studies. Additionally, we call for studies on biophobia that extend beyond animal species typically associated with fear or disgust.
Expanding the scope of such research will lead to a greater appreciation of the full range of human-nature interactions (from affinity to aversion) and ultimately improve conservation strategies.
