Why Do People Get So Excited About Apocalyptic Scenarios?
Pop culture has a lot of love for post-apocalyptic worlds. The reason why this is true is a mystery however... it's just something within us feels attracted to the idea of being in one of these situations.
So, why do people get so excited about Apocalyptic Scenarios? What makes people romanticize the end of the world as we know it?
What is the reason that leads preppers to hope for the inevitable to happen? Well, this is what I felt like writing today, as I think that can be explained by both our current society, the evolutionary biology and traits we developed throughout the years. If this is something you feel interests you, then read below…
The Ability to Pillage… And Get Away With It!
One of the first reasons most people love the idea of being nearly alone in the world against the elements is… the part where you can pillage everything.
Some people dream about being alone in a big city so they can enter any store, grab whatever they want, and get away with it. Imagine having that one object you always wanted but could never afford just at an arm’s reach!
It’s definitely something that pumps anyone’s enthusiasm levels up.
Another thing, that isn’t pillaging per se but is related to the idea of appropriation is having the choice of place to live. If you want to live in that luxurious mansion you always look at when you’re running errands… done! Heck, some people even have everything planned out in their minds for the inevitable zombie apocalypse, complete with travel plans and everything – just ask around… you’ll be surprised!
Breaking The Routine: Monotony of Modern Society
Another thing I've heard psychologists point out is that this scenario is attractive because it breaks the routine and the monotony installed in present day society. The individual is free from his responsibilities to the society because there's no society.
Humans are tribal, they are meant to live in small societies, and the only way society could grow to the numbers witnessed today was through the pressures it builds upon the individuals - like judicial, executive, and even peer pressure.
To live in a world with no society would break us free from these bonds, and without us noticing this may just be the biggest factor to consider on justifying why we feel living in the world of the Walking Dead could have its plus.
To Live a Simpler Life: Testing Yourself Against the Elements!
When talking about apocalyptic scenarios, the group that is the most excited about them happening is, of course, the prepper's crew.
There's a trend when it comes to preppers and survival enthusiasts - this is a hobby that increases in adoption the more its society host is evolved and out of touch with nature. In third world countries there are a lot less preppers, and in countries where hunger and disease abound, people have less attraction to this apocalyptic idea, and this has a reasonable cause - it has to do with Mazlow's Pyramid of Needs.
Basically, Mazlow's Pyramid points out humans have base needs (food, water, sex etc...) and top tier needs like spirituality, self-development, building up status and so on. With a lot of abundance in our lives as far as food and water is concerned (sex can be a problem to a few), people take the top tier needs too seriously, and even just what others think of you can crush some individuals with pressure, helping them develop anxiety and depression, among other even more severe and life-threatening conditions.
Humans long for a simpler time in which their only worry would be to survive, and those days in which they would live the present instead of constantly worrying about the future.
Less Competition: Going Tribal Again
As I said previously, Tribalism is what we feel comfortable adopting. When it comes to post-apocalyptic worlds, you don't see big complex societies any more, and that's partially the attraction of it as well.
When something really big disrupts our society, we go back to having micro-societies in which people compete less, as they are less in each group to begin with.
Not only that, there are also a lot of people dreaming of their tribe having plenty of people from the gender they're attracted to, thus decreasing the competition to mate - trust me, I researched and found people mention this variable a lot, so people DO indeed think like that... it isn't just you!
On the other hand, people also feel that a scenario like that would pose the perfect chance for them to test themselves and see if they would have what it takes to survive.
In Conclusion: What If It Really Happened?
People find the idea attractive, but that is just until you confront them with the logistics and reality pop art never exposes.
On the other hand, some of the people on the fringe of society or those preppers could actually like it... at first! They would go with it until the initial attraction would wear off and they realize what they are into.
Without the comfort of the bigger societies we set up, and without people working the backstage, humanity would devolve into the times in which you would die of a paper cut or something... and hence the romance ends.
What about you?
Did you ever think about what you'd do if you faced a post-apocalyptic scenario?
Since many of you are going to answer yes - how would you see it run? And how would you see it end?
I would love to know the answers to these questions, please comment below with any thoughts or questions, and I'll be sure to answer plenty of them.
Authored by @spiritualmax
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