>>4150099>you're like my sibling because geneticsthe Westermarck effect isn't caused by genetics. It's caused by growing in close proximity from preschool age. It has the same intended effect, to prevent inbreeding, but it's triggered by growing up while constantly exposed to the other person's naturally occurring pheromones, not a pre-birth effect
For good or for ill, this scenario is also why 'childhood romances' rarely actually happen in the real world
In context of Shinji and Rei, Shinji obviously doesn't know Rei's genetics but he is still attracted to her because they didn't grow up together and he hasn't developed the westermarck effect against her.
However, his rejection of her late in the series is driven by his newfound nihilism and misanthropy that developed after the trauma he experienced from Zeruel and Armisael.
