About Curiosity

(+Strong Need for Curiosity / -Weak Need for Practical Thinking)

The basic desire for Curiosity is the desire for understanding. As defined by Professor Steven Reiss’s theory of motivation, the desire for Curiosity is the need for intellectual activity, not the need to explore one’s environment (which falls under a different basic desire, Tranquility). Professor Reiss’s theory of motivation also distinguishes between intelligence and curiosity. Intelligence is the ability to learn, whereas curiosity is the desire to think deeply. Some curious people are not particularly smart, and some smart people are not particularly curious.

Your high score on the Curiosity scale suggests you feel a strong intensity for this basic desire.

The following is a general description of how a strong need for curiosity may influence your values, behavior, and personality traits. Typically, people with this need show only some of these characteristics. In the final analysis, you must decide which of the statements apply to you.

Personal Characteristics

People with a strong desire for curiosity want to understand things. Of course, everyone likes to understand things, but individuals with a strong need for curiosity place an uncommonly high value on knowledge. These types of people will ask "why" questions.

Many people with this need embrace intellectual pursuits such as thinking, reading, writing, and conversing. Some like to think deeply, becoming so absorbed in their thoughts they pay little attention to what is happening around them. Some are easily bored if they are not engaged in analyzing complex issues. Many like to read books. Some seek out stimulating companies with whom they can enjoy intellectual discussions. Many of these individuals could be described as lifelong learners. They often are viewed by others as contemplative, inquisitive, and analytical.

People with a strong desire for curiosity value theoretical knowledge and ideas, regardless of their practical relevance. They generally enjoy a wide range of intellectual interests even though they may focus on a particular area of expertise. Many of these individuals respect people who are smart and thoughtful.

Relational Characteristics

In relationships with friends, family, and partners, a person with a strong desire for curiosity will connect with people with whom they can have intellectual conversations about abstract theory or ideas of the future. In conversation, these individuals will ask various questions for learning and understanding; this increases more analytical thinking. When asked a direct question, sometimes people who are strong in curiosity may answer abstractly. They will also enjoy going to places such as museums, historical sites, or reservations that can allow the curiosity passion to be stimulated. In conflict or asked to do something, this person may question the purpose or ask for clarification, which could cause conflict.

People naturally bond to others with similar values, and they naturally separate from those with different values. If both people in a relationship are intellectuals, they are likely to understand each other’s need for intellectual pursuits. However, if one person is an intellectual and the other is a practical individual, they will tend to misunderstand one another. The intellectual may think the practical person is boring, while the practical individual may think the intellectual is too “nerdy.” Since the conflict is one of core values, the relationship may be characterized by repeated quarrels about the difficulty of understanding each other, the amount of time that should be spent talking about theoretical ideas versus superficial topics, and/or the importance of education.

Professional Characteristics

Due to their enjoyment of nuance, some individuals with a strong need for curiosity tend to make things more complicated than is necessary. They may talk or write in long, complex sentences. Some use unnecessarily sophisticated vocabulary. Under stress, some curious people have a tendency to become too talkative or ask too many questions. They also may dislike having to follow simplistic instructions that do not include an explanation for why a task should be done in a certain way. Some may become overly analytical even with their superiors.

Some curious people might be interested in a career or job that is intellectually stimulating. They have many such jobs they can choose from including astronaut, business executive, detective, editor, engineer, investor, journalist, lawyer, librarian, nurse, scientist, and teacher. On the other hand, they might be disinterested in a career or job that requires minimal intellectual effort such as animal caregiver, assembler, barber, carpenter, data entry person, factory work, hair stylist, garment worker (sewing), painter, repair person, truck driver, typist, and waiter.