I think it's the same sort of idea but at a lower level (as it were). The (very) few times I've tried to explain recursion to non-CS-types have always been met

I think it's the same sort of idea but at a lower level (as it were). The (very) few times I've tried to explain recursion to non-CS-types have always been met with "I sort of get it" looks (meaning "we'll have forgotten in five minutes"). But there seems to be no pattern to the non-tech people who don't understand tree-views. The only thing I've noticed is it might be maths-related - as people in the accounts departments invariably get trees straight away.