Principle 4

Some people embrace unfamiliar, unusual, and even uncomfortable activities and settings.  When they hear someone propose an argument that diverges from their opinions, they may consider the possible merits of this position rather than discount the person instantly.  When granted the opportunity, they may be willing to participate in cultural rituals or events they have never witnessed before. In contrast, many people are often wary of unfamiliar activities, unpredictable people, or uncomfortable circumstances—sometimes called a need for closure.

Importantly, when people override this inclination to be wary—and instead choose to embrace the unknown and to appreciate diverse people and perspectives—they generally enjoy a range of benefits.  For example

• if people embrace the unfamiliar, the unpredictable, and the uncomfortable, they are more likely to experience unanticipated benefits—perhaps a sense of pride or fascination, for example,
• indeed, unanticipated benefits are more likely than anticipated benefits to boost levels of dopamine in the brain—specifically, in the mesolimbic pathway—experienced as powerful feelings of reward and pleasure. 

Yet, when embrace the unfamiliar, the unpredictable, and the uncomfortable, they do not experience only pleasant emotions.  They tend to experience a blend of pleasant emotions as well as some unpleasant emotions, such as apprehension or uncertainty.  This blend of pleasant feelings and unpleasant feelings, called ambivalent emotions, are especially beneficial.  To illustrate,

• ambivalent emotions have been shown to improve mental health and even physical health,
• ambivalent emotions also enhance the capacity of individuals to solve problems creatively,
• likewise, when people are exposed to unfamiliar cultures and perspectives, they learn insights they had not considered before, also enhancing their creativity,
• these findings could explain the observation that, after regions attract more diverse people, productivity and thus average wages tend to increase significantly.

Many problems in society can be ascribed to the disinclination of people to appreciate the benefits and opportunities in the unfamiliar, the unpredictable, and the uncomfortable.  For example, when the American Defense Forces, together with the International Coalition, arrived in Afghanistan in 2001, military personnel, with noble intentions, attempted to impose their values onto Afghan society. However,

• in general, these personnel were not especially curious about the culture,
• that is, they did not often want to learn about the cultural nuances and practices that people in Afghanistan cherished,
• consequently, locals often perceived American military personnel as aggressive and antagonistic, a perception that evoked some resistance and impeded the goals of these forces.

Fortunately, you do not have to visit war zones to expose themselves to unfamiliar activities, unpredictable people, or uncomfortable circumstances.  Even virtual reality, such as flights over the Alps while using Oculus Go VR headsets, can transform the lives of individuals.  When people are exposed to unfamiliar or remarkable settings while using virtual reality, they are more likely to experience a sense of awe and wonder—a sense that often translates to humility and respect (Edwards et al., 2024; Stellar et al., 2018).  Or, if you do not want to purchase VR headsets, you could

• utilise AI to identify which videos or movies were described by viewers as humbling,
• watch these videos or movies, because these experiences also likely to promote awe, humility, insight, and innovation,
• when meeting people who you perceive as very different to you, attempt to identify the values or beliefs you share,
• when meeting people who you perceive as very similar to you, attempt to identify and to contemplate the values or beliefs that you do not share.