Social Psychology: To what extent does belief in and fascination with UFOs reflect humanity's yearning for the unknown, desire for transcendent powers, and anxiety about the future?

Hello, this is a very interesting question, and it actually touches upon something deep within us. Why are UFOs and aliens so captivating? I think we can discuss it from the points you've raised, as it's something that truly relates to each of us.

1. The Fascination with the "Unknown": A Cosmic "Murder Mystery Game"

You can view the entire history of human development as a continuous process of exploring the unknown, transforming the "unknown" into the "known." We've climbed the highest mountains, dived into the deepest oceans, and now, our gaze is fixed on the stars.

• Innate Curiosity: Why do children always ask "why"? Because we are naturally curious about things we don't understand. The universe is so vast that we are almost certain we aren't the only "players." UFOs are like a mysterious clue card in this cosmic "murder mystery game," hinting at a vast, unknown worldview waiting for us to unlock.
• Adding Spice to Mundane Life: Most people's lives are a monotonous routine, a bit dull. UFO stories, whether true or not, offer a "possibility" – that perhaps, as we gaze at the stars, more advanced intelligent beings are also watching us. This idea itself is far more romantic and exciting than "we are alone in the universe." It makes the world less "set in stone" and fills it with mystery.

2. The Craving for "Transcendent Power": Seeking Modern-Day "Gods"

In ancient times, people didn't understand thunder and lightning, so they imagined deities like the Thunder God and Lightning Mother. We are always accustomed to personifying powerful forces that we cannot explain or control.

• New Gods for the Scientific Age: As science advanced, many old deities were dethroned. However, humanity's deep-seated craving for reliance and ultimate answers didn't disappear. At this point, an alien civilization with super-advanced technology, capable of effortlessly traversing galaxies, perfectly fills this role.
• Savior Complex: Look at the problems we face today: war, environmental pollution, disease... Often, we feel powerless. Thus, a fantasy emerges: Could a "higher civilization" descend like gods, using technology beyond our comprehension to effortlessly solve all our problems? Or perhaps show us a clear path forward? This yearning for a "hero from above" to save the world is, in fact, a psychological comfort. They may not be gods, but they play a similar role.

3. Anxiety about the "Future": Projections of Hope and Fear

Our imaginations regarding UFOs and aliens are often polarized, and this precisely reflects our complex mindset towards the future.

• Projection of Fear (Dark Forest): Think of the "Dark Forest theory" from The Three-Body Problem, or various alien invasion movies. Behind this lies our fear of the future. We fear that in the unknown universe, we are merely "lambs to the slaughter." This imagination is, in fact, an amplification of our real-world anxieties. For instance, during the Cold War, people feared nuclear war, and UFO sightings were particularly frequent, with many imagining UFOs as potential destroyers. Today, we are anxious about uncontrollable technologies like AI and genetic engineering, and aliens become the ultimate symbol of something "more advanced and even less controllable."
• Projection of Hope (Star Trek): On the other hand, we also project our greatest hopes onto aliens. We imagine them having created a utopian society free of conflict, with infinite resources, and highly advanced (much like the United Federation of Planets in Star Trek). This reflects our desire to transcend the various dissatisfactions of the real world and our yearning for a better future. We hope they can bring peace, wisdom, and new technology, leading humanity into a new era.

In summary:

Therefore, the fascination with UFOs often isn't about whether UFOs themselves are real or not, but rather that they serve as a perfect "psychological projection screen."

They are like a mirror, reflecting some of humanity's most fundamental traits as a species: insatiable curiosity, a sense of loneliness in the vast universe, reverence and longing for greater powers, and the complex mix of fear and hope when facing an uncertain future.

This is probably why, no matter how technology advances, as long as the starry sky remains, the story of UFOs will never go out of style.