Neophiliac is someone who loves change. I am definitely a neophiliac and have come to terms with the fact. Now the term does not sound so great but it is merely how Psychology defines it. Psychologists label attractions to situations as "philias" and fear or apprehension to situations as “phobias.”
Neo derives from néos, a Greek word meaning new. So, If you put “neo” with “philias” you get someone who likes the novel or the new. Now this may not sound unique but research shows us that a majority of people fear the new because of the uncertainty it brings. Many people will avoid change even if logic tells them it is good for them. Maybe that’s why Mark Twain said “The only person who likes change is a baby with a wet diaper.”
Neuroscience research teaches us that uncertainty registers in our brain much like an error does. It needs to be corrected before we can feel comfortable again, so we'd rather not have that hanging out there if we can avoid it. However, that just doesn’t work because life is all about change.
I recently read, and re-read William Bridges book "Managing Transitions." Bridges contends that culturally Americans do not deal with thoughtful transition as we are quick to just move on. He says most fear comes from the messy parts of transition, not actual change. The difference between these is subtle but important. Change is something that happens to people. Transition, on the other hand, is internal: it's what happens in people's minds as they go through change. Change can happen very quickly, while transition must take time. I think neophiliacs are better at transitioning and dealing with the “Letting go, neutral zones, and new beginnings” as we value the newness on the other side.
Winifred Gallagher recently revived the concept of neophilia in her book "New: Understanding Our Need for Novelty and Change." Although she focuses on neophilia in our contemporary age of high-tech gadgets and social media, the concept of being attracted to the new has a long history in psychology. A few mindsets she share for neophiliacs are:
You are always ready to explore new situations and, in fact, find it highly rewarding to do so.
You make decisions quickly without necessarily considering all the consequences.
You are spontaneous and don't like to be hemmed in by rules and regulations.
You are ready to spend time, energy, and money in order to obtain the rewards you desire.
In research on novelty-seeking, the pros of being able to roll with life's changes seem to be balanced against the cons of being vulnerable to addictive behaviors. Some forms of novelty-seeking may be related to creativity according to Marvin Zuckerman’s research. He found, “people who seek pleasure from new experiences are also likely to be more creative. The ability to have big ideas seems to require a certain degree of enjoyment of expanding your mental horizons into new territory.”
So, maybe I am no super human sent to save the human race like Keanu Reeves, Neo in the Matrix movies. But, I own my neophilia and hope to harness this desire for newness to drive my creativity, connections for infinite possibilities.
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