A simple interactive proof of the theory of evolution
TweetLet’s conduct a very simple experiment, shall we? I will show you two images. Look at each image and try to gauge your emotional reaction. Don’t just focus on what you are supposed to be feeling, but the actual visceral reaction you have to each image.
Which image gives you a greater emotional response?
For most people, the second image creates a much stronger emotional response than the first. This is not necessarily a rational response. Both situations are (roughly) equally dangerous, however we have built-in circuitry that deals specifically with situations that were likely to occur in our evolutionary past. Only one of these fits the bill. Apparently, this (useful) fear of heights is instilled in us while we are quite young (about the same time we develop the depth perception to perceive it). Sadly, I know of no such innate fear of firearms.
Here’s another fun link about our recent ancestry with the other apes
[from reddit].
twitter 
May 2nd, 2010 at 5:22 pm
cute
May 2nd, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Interestingly, the firearm was worse for me, even though I have no great love of heights. The bridge was just an interesting picture.
May 2nd, 2010 at 7:47 pm
The bridge scared the hell out of me, until I finally saw it was taken from a bridge. Then my engineering inner geek took over, and it became an interesting picture.
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:43 am
How do we know it is our evolutionary past causing this effect and not just our life experiences? When I was learning to walk I fell down and felt a pain response many times, but I’ve never been shot. So doesn’t it make sense that I would a greater fear of falling than of being shot?
May 4th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Indeed @tom. I suppose my ‘proof’ does suffer from this flaw. I wonder, too, how much the reaction changes with people who have actually been shot.
May 16th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Yes, I wonder where conditional learning comes into play with this “proof”. Interesting, nonetheless.
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