another viewpoint – between the different motor systems responsible for approach (forward locomotion)

and inhibition of ongoing behavior.

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Figure 5: The Ambivalent Nature of Novelty

The “ambivalent unknown” – that is, novelty – comes in two “forms,” so to speak (as alluded to earlier).
“Normal” novelty emerges within the “territory” circumscribed by the choice of a particular end-point or
goal (which is to say, after getting to specific point “b” has been deemed the most important possible
activity, at this time and in this place). Something “normally” novel constitutes an occurrence which leaves
the current departure point and goal intact, but that indicates that the means of achieving that goal have to
be modified. Let us say, for example, that you are in your office. You are accustomed to walking down an
unobstructed hallway, to get to the elevator. You are so used to performing this activity, that you can do it
“automatically” – so you often read while walking. One day, while reading, you stumble over a chair
someone left in the middle of the hallway. This is “normal” novelty. You don’t have to alter your current
goal, except in a temporary and trivial manner; you are not likely to get too upset by the unexpected
obstacle. Getting to the elevator is still a real possibility, even within the desired time-frame; all you have
to do is walk around the chair (or move it somewhere else, if you are feeling particularly altruistic). Figure
6: Emergence of Normal Novelty in the Course of Goal-Directed Behavior provides an abstracted
representation of this process of trivial adaptation.

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