Neophobia

Neophobia is the fear of anything new. In its milder form, it can manifest as the unwillingness to try new things or break from routine. In the context of human children, the term is generally used to indicate a tendency to reject unknown or novel foods. Food neophobia, as it may be referred to, is an important concern in pediatric psychology. In biomedical research, neophobia is often associated with the study of taste, with research examining parts of the brain involved and cellular and molecular factors that can affect an animal's willingness to taste new foods. In ecological research, neophobia is seen as a trait that can be both helpful and harmful, where neophobia can protect wild animals from novel dangers, but also prevent them from accessing novel resources.