Monsters are frightening, yet they continue to fascinate us. From chimeras and hydras to bunyips and golems, creatures have emerged from our imaginations across history and cultures. Today, monsters appear on movie screens with surprising frequency. Given how frightening monsters can be, it seems paradoxical that we continue to create them. In fact, monsters are so important to us that they are deeply rooted in our evolutionary history and psychology.
Monsters are the result of co-evolution with predators and are hardwired into the human neural circuitry: snakes, for example, were among the first fierce animals produced by our ancestors.
(TagToTranslate) Psychology
