Curiosity is inherent in humans at the genetic level. But not everyone takes advantage of this thirst for new knowledge. We tell you why we are curious about something and how the brain reacts.
What is curiosity?
Curiosity is a strong desire to know something, learn something, or search for information. Todd Kashdan, associate professor of psychology at George Mason University and author of books, calls curiosity the engine of growth. According to the scientist, it helps to find purpose and meaning in life. Curiosity is observed in every animal on the planet. But not every search for information is driven by curiosity. Motivation plays a crucial role in this process. If a person wants to find information because of an external motivation (study or work), then this process has nothing to do with curiosity. But if a strong desire to learn something is caused by internal motivation, then this is curiosity. When a situation arouses our interest, the so-called "curiosity mode" is activated. In the beginning, the part of the brain that is responsible for reacting to unpleasant events begins to react. That is, a person experiences discomfort and inconvenience due to the lack of certain knowledge. Then another part of the brain is connected, responsible for memory and learning. It is at this moment that a person prepares to satisfy his curiosity. When all the answers are found, a new stage will begin — the reward stage. The brain will thank you for your curiosity — the body will be filled with dopamine. We get a release of dopamine and, as a result, a feeling of joy both for achieving a goal and for thinking about victory.
What types of curiosity exist
As experts at the Britannica Group say, there are two types of curiosity. - Epistemological is the desire to eliminate the lack of knowledge and learn new information. Epistemology helps to justify some scientific knowledge and reject others. Let's give an example: if after watching the movie "Armageddon" you decided to find out what asteroids are, how they appear and whether they can destroy the planet, then it was epistemological curiosity that guided you.
- Empathic is the desire to learn more about other people's feelings and thoughts. For example, this type of curiosity encourages us to follow the lives of former classmates or show business stars, look out the window at extraneous sounds, listen to the noise in the neighboring apartment and not only.
What are the advantages of curiosity?
There is a hypothesis that as a person gets older, he loses the craving for curiosity. However, the Israeli-American astrophysicist, popularizer of science and writer Mario Livio does not agree with this statement. In his opinion, over time, a person may lose the ability to be surprised, and epistemic curiosity accompanies him throughout his life. How does curiosity affect a person? - Helps you learn. According to research by scientists, curiosity promotes the memorization of new information. The speed and duration of data assimilation is also influenced by your desire for knowledge. The higher it is, the more likely you are to remember everything.
- Improves relationships. Scientists have found a link between curiosity and lasting relationships. Sincere interest in a person affects the feeling of intimacy.
- It affects life expectancy. Curious people are constantly striving to explore, discover, and change something. The study showed that the more curious older people lived five years longer than the less curious ones.
How to develop curiosity
Psychological traits and curiosity are inherent in humans at the genetic level, Livio believes. Over time, some people increase their level of curiosity by asking questions, exploring unknown topics, etc. Others suppress their interest. But you can develop curiosity, just like any other skill or skill. There are several ways to help in this process. - Ask more. If any term or event is mentioned in the conversation, do not hesitate to ask clarifying questions. They will allow you to immerse yourself more in the topic and learn something new.
- Write it down. To make the information better remembered, it is better to write it down. You can formalize your thoughts in a notebook or phone notes.
- Be interested in different directions. Study information that has nothing to do with your main professional activity. For example, if you have never bought books in the genre of science fiction or self-development, then you can start with this.
- Communicate with different people. Try to go to events, meetings, and workshops more often. People from different fields often gather there. Talk to them, take an interest in their lives and work.
- Immerse yourself in the topic. Choose a direction that you are particularly interested in and immerse yourself in the learning process. You can read articles and research, watch speeches by famous speakers, and listen to podcasts.
- Spend time with the kids. Children are very curious. They constantly ask questions that help them explore the world around them.
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