[decimon]

These tales go back as far as man began to grunt warnings to his offspring that a beast would eat them if they ventured too far from the cave.

That has to be part of this. The messages of the tales are universal.

[DrC]

““I have tried to show that tales relevant to our adaptation to the environment and survival are stored in our brains and we consistently use them for all kinds of reference points.”

“That has to be part of this. The messages of the tales are universal.”

Maybe, but I was never tempted to talk with strange wolves in dark forests even before ever being told this tale.