Curiosity and Interest: The Benefits of Thriving on Novelty and Challenge

Animbalance existsbetweentheroleofcuriosity asamotivational forceinnearlyallhumanendeavorsand thelack of scientific attentiongiventothe topic. Inrecent years, however, there has beena proliferation of concepts that capture the essence of curiosity-recognizing, seeking out, and showing a preference for the new. In this chapter, we combine this work to address the nature of curiosity, where it fits in the larger scheme of positive emotions, the advantages of being curious in social relationships, links between curiosity and elements of well-being, and how it has been used in interventions to improve people’s quality of life. Our emphasis is on methodologically sophisticated findings that show how curiosity operates in the laboratory and everyday life, and how, under certain conditions, curiosity can be a profound source of strengthoraliability.Peoplewhoareregularlycuriousandwillingtoembracethenovelty,uncertainty,and challenges that are inevitable as we navigate the shoals of everyday life are at an advantage in creating a fulfilling existence compared with their less curious peers. Our brief review is designed to bring further attention to this neglected, underappreciated, human universal.