Here are some easy ways to begin expanding your own curiosity capacity: Start by devoting five minutes each day to your curiosity practice. District Of Columbia Most of us mistakenly believe that certainty will make us happier than uncertainty. We forget about the pleasures of surprise and uncertainty. Skyscraper-size asteroid will blaze past Earth in a close approach this Sunday, Cave explorers discover a 19th-century mining scene preserved like a time capsule, A group of violent otters is mysteriously attacking people and dogs in Alaska. Curious people report more satisfying relationships and marriages. seizing the pleasures that novel experiences, attitude of openness and genuine interest, take part in new and uncertain activities, intricacies and sensations of your own movement, give the person you are talking to space and time. In his bookCurious? Humans needed to understand the environment, and manipulate it, in order to survive. Our brains are more powerful than any computer. When you explore and satisfy your curiosity, your brain floods your body with dopamine, which makes you feel happier. Why is exercise important, according to the science? But once upon a time, an early human channeled inspiration into pure ingenuity and figured out how to start a fire. Researchers did identify changes to a specific gene type that is more common in individual songbirds that are especially keen on exploring their environment, according to a 2007 study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Science. Each one of us carries ingrained, unconscious ideas of just how happy and successful we can be. Curiosity is a hallmark of the human experience. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. The study proved that friendship positively influences not only the psychological state but physical health aswell. While correlation does not imply causation, these relationships suggest that curiosity may have a variety of positive connections with health that deserve further study. Whether you go exploring your curiosity through social events or study, and whether you dive into biology, philosophy, psychology, your environment, or beyond, remember that different approaches will suit different people and that its what each of us does with the information that matters. Nevada Minnesota For example, did you know that the smarter apersonis, the fewer friends they have? Delaware Sign up here to get Demystified stories delivered right to your inbox. Genes and the environment interact in many complex ways to shape individuals and guide their behavior, including their curiosity. While pinning down a definition has proven tricky, "the general consensus is it's some means of information gathering," Katherine Twomey, a lecturer in language and communicative development at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, told Live Science. Be willing to adjust your action plan. You dont have to go into the experiment expecting to like broccoli at the end; your goal should simply be to discover three interesting, new-to-you things about eating broccoli. Researchers have determined that dopamine, the brains reward chemical, is intricately linked to the brains curiosity state 1. Happy couples describe their partners as interested and responsive. What are they? Think about the usefulness of a stone tool or a boat. Why do people have different personalities? A 1983 study in the journal Developmental Psychology of slightly older children (ages 8 months and 12 months old) indicated that once babies got used to familiar toys, they preferred new ones, a scenario that caregivers likely know all too well. Human life is built on relationships and interactions between people, and empathic curiosity is the drive to know more about what other people think and feel. It originally appeared in the May 2010 issue of Experience Life. Another kind of curiosity is distinctively human. Utah Colorado Armed Forces Pacific Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). In one study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 2002, researchers correctly predicted that high novelty-seeking (or highly curious) toddlers would have higher IQs as older children than toddlers with lower levels of curiosity. This small exercise altered the way they viewed and felt about the activity. Reawakening it starts with shifting how we pay attention even in situations weve experienced a thousand times before. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. For instance, go to the tourism bureau in your city, gather the maps and lists of attractions they give to newcomers, and take a tour. The major part ofany conversation isgossip and this factor doesnt depend ongender: men are inclined togossip just asmuch aswomen. This approach supports the development of good relationships. (For more on discovering your values and passions, see Embrace a Bold Vision.). Grant Currin is a freelance science journalist based in Brooklyn, New York, who writes about Life's Little Mysteries and other topics for Live Science. Discover how cultivating an inquiring mind can help you lead a happier, healthier life. One way to become more curious is to intentionally circumvent expectations, labels and assumptions about seemingly familiar activities and events. In his book, The Power of Premonitions, Larry Dossey, MD, cites studies that have shown women who regularly engage in mini-mysteries taking on novel experiences that get them out of familiar routines (better) preserve their mental faculties later in life. In short, a regular dose of the unexpected helps keep your brain healthy. We can also use curiosity to intentionally create wonder, intrigue and play out of almost any situation or interaction we encounter. Meeting new people can help us discover previously unrecognized aspects of ourselves and our loved ones. animal testing graphs Alabama Other studies have shown that high levels of curiosity in adults are connected to greater analytic ability, problem-solving skills and overall intelligence. This reward mechanism increases the likelihood that youll try and satisfy your curiosity again in the future. The second type of curiosity you might find yourself expressing is empathic curiosity. This system was the end result of reading the works of ancient philosophers, religious texts and contemporary literature, then identifying patterns, and finally subjecting these ideas to rigorous scientific tests. North Carolina oddities Often, the more curiosity and energy we invest in exploring and understanding them, the more compelling they become. West Virginia Do you dislike broccoli (even though you havent tried it since you were 11)? Consider the list of low-interest, but necessary, activities in your typical day. When the study subjects were contacted weeks later, those individuals who were asked to search for the novel and unfamiliar in their laboratory task were more likely to have done the task on their own without being asked or prompted (though it is unknown if the bodybuilder continued crocheting). Just because humans can imagine something doesn't mean it will work, at least not at first. However, gossiping isnt that bad: its animportant way ofcommunication. Curious people ask questions and take an interest in learning about partners, and they intentionally try to keep interactions interesting engaging and playful. Michigan But by learning to identify and transcend these self-imposed Upper Limits, we can expand our potential for happiness and abundance in extraordinary ways. Connecticut Not all curious humans lived to pass their penchant for exploration on to their descendants, but those who did helped create a species that can't help but think, "Huh, I wonder what would happen if ". This often sparks resentment, hostility, communication breakdowns and a lack of interest in spending time together (only adding to the initial problem). One of the most reliable and overlooked keys to happiness is cultivating and exercising our innate sense of curiosity. Make it a goal to find out something new about the people you know. It is far easier to form and maintain satisfying, significant relationships when you demonstrate an attitude of openness and genuine interest. This man found the job dreary. When something piques your curiosity say, an interesting fact, or an unexpected noise in the other room your brain enters into whats called the curiosity state. First, the parts of the brain that are sensitive to unpleasant conditions light up. South Carolina Washington Studies have shown that curiosity positively correlates with intelligence. NY 10036. Ifyou want tocome upwith acreative idea, its better toget tired. In todays world, being curious can enrich your life massively.
Hundreds of studies show that infants prefer novelty. Perhaps it was a bolt of lightning that piqued the early humans curiosity; perhaps it was a raging wildfire. Massachusetts And its all meant tomake you feel better and tohelp you overcome lifes obstacles more easily. Why does ancient Egypt's distinctive art style make everything look flat? But curiosity comes with a cost. Both factors are supported by curiosity. But when does information seeking qualify as curiosity? Curiosity encompasses such a large set of behaviors, there probably isnt any single "curiosity gene" that makes humans wonder about the world and explore their environment. So he developed a game that made it more interesting: He searched for potato chips resembling famous people and kept a collection (imagine silhouettes of Elvis, Charles Manson, Marilyn Monroe and Jimi Hendrix). Host a party and make sure to ask each attendee a couple of questions about themselves (ones for which you dont know the answer). Mississippi Researchers measured the degree of novelty-seeking behavior in 1,795 3-year-olds and then measured their cognitive ability at age 11. Your email address will not be published. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. They also had superior scholastic and reading ability. In one of my studies, participants spent five minutes getting acquainted with a stranger of the opposite sex, and each person made judgments about his or her partners personality.