How We Imagine Aliens

   One of the most important topics in the genre of science fiction is the discussion of alien or extraterrestrial psychologies. Science fiction writers often use the format of their work to imagine all the different psychological possibilities there are that exist outside what is called the normal human psychology. In “Hardfought”, Greg Bear explores aliens that are hive-like and possess a group mind. This example is somewhat similar to the aliens described in Larry Niven’s and Jerry Pournell’s novel Footfall in which the aliens are herd creatures.

   Greg Bear’s aliens, the Senexi, are very different than humans. They have a different physical make-up, even using different elements than us, but their psychology is also very different. Every individual, called branch inds., has access to the memories of the entire race through its brood mind. The branch inds. are formed into teams assigned to a single brood mind. Branch inds. are not expected to do much thinking on their own, but are instead supposed to be only capable of doing actions set forth for them by the brood mind. Every Senexi individual does only that wich is good for the entire race, because whatever is experienced by one of them is also experienced by them all. In the story, however, Bear allows one of these branch inds. to start working on its own. This act, supposedly done for the good of the species, makes this branch ind. An outcast, essentially dead to the rest of his team.

   In Footfall, the aliens are a herd race. They cannot function alone because they need the support of the herd behind them to function. If they are separated from the herd, they will usually go insane. In fact, the highest punishment in their society is not death, but banishment. This is interesting when compared to Bear’s aliens where an individual is considered dead if it leaves its team and brood mind.

  Neither the herd aliens of Footfall, nor the brood mind aliens of “Hardfought” can comprehend human thought. To them the idea of individuality is completely alien. For example, the herd aliens do not understand why, after they receive the surrender of one individual of the group, the rest of the group does not honor that surrender. They come to the conclusion that the entire human race must be insane, a conclusion somewhat shared by the Senexi of “Hardfought”. Interestingly enough, we are insane ffrom the point of view of an alien psychology, just as aliens might be insane from our point of view.

   The exploration of alien psychology in science fiction is very important. By trying to imagine every possible type of psychology an alien being might possess, we make our race better prepared to deal with an alien society when we eventually make contact with them. But still, the question remains, will all of humanity be able to deal with an alien psychology, or will only science fiction writers and fans be ready?