Biophilia as a temperament trait, not a universal: children’s attraction and aversion to biodiversity in the United States and Democratic Republic of Congo

Introduction The Biophilia Hypothesis proposes that humans have a universal attraction to the natural world, yet little is known about how this attraction emerges or varies during childhood. We tested the Biophilia Reactivity Hypothesis, which reframes biophilia as an early-emerging, individually variable, temperament-like orientation toward biodiversity. Methods We studied 295 children aged 3-13 years in two distinct settings: 124 children at the North Carolina Zoo in the United States and 171 children at Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Children completed a