Curious

What makes you lean in to learn more or tune out boredom? It's the questions we ask, says Ian Leslie, that ignite curiosity and light the path to discovery.

1. Curiosity Thrives on Information Gaps

Curiosity arises when we recognize an information gap—a situation where we lack a piece of the puzzle that sparks our desire to learn more. George Loewenstein, a psychologist, explains that we are driven to close those gaps to gain understanding. Whether it's a mystery novel or a fascinating headline, this phenomenon hooks our minds.

However, curiosity isn't triggered in a vacuum. You can only feel curious about something when it connects to what you already know. If a subject feels completely foreign, curiosity fails to take root because there's no bridge between familiarity and mystery.

For example, when watching a thriller, your brain focuses on uncovering who committed the crime, the missing piece in the storyline. Similarly, if someone shares a detail that connects personally to you, such as the mention of your hometown in a worldwide event, that connection ignites interest.

Examples

• A gripping mystery novel keeps readers guessing "who did it" until the end.
• A friend mentioning your favorite movie suddenly sparks interest in classical music.
• Seeing an unexplained optical illusion makes viewers research how it works.

2. Two Types of Curiosity Drive Our Brain

Ian Leslie identifies two forms of curiosity: diversive and epistemic. Diversive curiosity reflects our need for novelty and amusement. It often leads us down a rabbit hole of distraction, like late-night scrolling through humorous memes or internet searches.

On the other hand, epistemic curiosity drives our quest for deeper, meaningful knowledge. It's this type that fuels scientists, innovators, and inventors to dive into their fields with intensity and emerge with groundbreaking ideas.

Darwin’s fascination with a barnacle serves as a prime example of epistemic curiosity. He spent years studying this one creature to understand its place in the world better. While both forms of curiosity have benefits, combining diversive curiosity with epistemic curiosity creates a balance between surface-level entertainment and sustained intellectual growth.

Examples

• Diversive curiosity makes you click endlessly through funny cat videos.
• Epistemic curiosity inspired Charles Darwin to study species rigorously for years.
• Diversive curiosity might introduce you to an intriguing topic, while epistemic curiosity prompts you to research it in detail.

3. Curiosity is Born Early but Can Fade With Age

Children show limitless curiosity, asking an average of 300 questions daily between ages three and five. This innate drive to explore illustrates the natural human instinct to learn and understand the world.

However, growing up changes this behavior. Adults often stop questioning and rely on autopilot thinking, resulting in intellectual stagnation. This faded curiosity is fueled by life's routines, societal expectations, or even lack of nurturing environments.

Studies reveal that attentive parents who engage with their children's curiosity help extend their inquisitiveness. Conversely, neglected curiosity or an absence of engagement during formative years diminishes a child’s desire to question and explore further.

Examples

• A child ignored when pointing at something may lose interest in seeking knowledge.
• Attentive parents bolster their children's language skills by responding to questions.
• Adults relying heavily on routine often stop asking “why” or “how” about the world.

4. The Internet Deepens the Divide Between Curious and Incurious

The internet offers unparalleled access to information but divides people into two groups: those eager to learn and those distracted by entertainment. It perpetuates intellectual divergence by fueling the curious and enabling mindless habits in others.

While the internet creates opportunities to delve into expansive learning, it also tempts individuals with endless distractions, such as social media or streaming. People already motivated to learn grow even more curious, while those disinterested in learning may drift into passive consumption.

This polarization in educational engagement contributes to growing societal divides. Those with intellectual curiosity excel academically, landing better jobs, and leading more fulfilling lives, while others may lag behind due to disinterest in exploring knowledge.

Examples

• Curious individuals use the internet to study complex fields like astrophysics.
• Incurious individuals may spend hours binging videos without gaining deeper knowledge.
• Educational systems struggle to accommodate the vast curiosity gap among students.

5. Easy Access to Information Hinders Retention and Creativity

The internet provides instant answers but undermines long-term memory. Knowing information is one click away makes us less likely to internalize it, leading to surface-level understanding.

Moreover, creativity requires random and diverse inputs. When Google gives precise, direct answers, it eliminates opportunities to stumble across unrelated knowledge that fosters creativity. Steve Jobs, for instance, blended ideas from Eastern philosophy and design to create groundbreaking innovations.

Truly gathering knowledge requires effort, like researching at a library, to ensure new information is committed to lasting memory. Without these deliberate efforts, our minds miss the chance to make unexpected connections.

Examples

• A quick Google search for a fact may make it harder for you to recall later.
• Steve Jobs’ innovative ideas stemmed from his varied interests across art, science, and design.
• Searching for a book in a library often leads to stumbling upon other valuable authors and topics.

6. The Habit of Asking Questions Fosters Lifelong Learning

Every discovery begins with a question. Children ask freely, but adults often hesitate, fearing embarrassment or appearing ignorant. As a result, many avoid asking altogether, stifling their opportunity for growth.

Questions drive change and safeguard against avoidable mistakes. For instance, during the 2008 financial crisis, bankers failed to ask questions about the potential risks of their decisions, leading to a catastrophic global meltdown.

Making question-asking a deliberate habit strengthens intellectual curiosity and promotes open dialogue. Asking “why” or “how” regularly sharpens your ability to think critically and uncover answers.

Examples

• Parents who ask their children questions encourage reciprocal question-asking behavior.
• Bankers in 2008 faced disaster due to their failure to face difficult questions about risk.
• Leaders or innovators are celebrated for their knack for asking penetrating questions.

7. Broad Knowledge Sparks Creativity and Fuels Curiosity

To create something new, it helps to have a foundation of diverse knowledge. The more you know, the more connections you can make between unrelated ideas, which is the essence of creativity.

For example, Shakespeare's knowledge of ancient Greek literature and Italian culture enriched his storytelling. He borrowed from various sources and reinvented them, building multi-layered plays like “Romeo and Juliet.”

Similarly, students learning history often struggle without context. A foundational level of understanding opens doors to curiosity, helping learners seek further connections in knowledge.

Examples

• Shakespeare’s extensive education in classical literature influenced his timeless works.
• Students often enjoy history more once they can connect events to a broader narrative.
• Combining expertise in unrelated disciplines, like biology and economics, can yield breakthroughs.

8. Be Both a Specialist and a Generalist

Successful thinkers combine depth in their fields with a broad, versatile knowledge base. Specializing in one area while staying open to other disciplines offers the best of both worlds.

For example, Darwin understood biology deeply but also borrowed economic theories to think differently about natural selection. Similarly, today’s professionals must juggle multiple disciplines—music experts rely on social media, and linguists may need data analytics skills.

Balancing depth with breadth prepares individuals for modern challenges and enables interdisciplinary exploration.

Examples

• Darwin blended biology with economic theories to develop his theory of evolution.
• Social media marketing demands an understanding of consumer psychology and design.
• Software engineers often branch into non-technical disciplines, like communication.

9. Perspective Makes Anything Interesting

Interest lies in approach, not subject matter. The "Boring Conference" in London celebrates ordinary topics—bus routes or hand dryers—presented with engaging perspectives.

Andy Warhol reflected this idea in his art by highlighting mundane objects like Campbell’s soup cans. He taught that with the right mindset, even the most everyday items could inspire awe.

Henry James, critically acclaimed for his novels, transformed dull anecdotes into captivating stories by focusing on people, their thoughts, and behavior. His curiosity turned the ordinary into extraordinary.

Examples

• The "Boring Conference" makes mundane topics fascinating through storytelling.
• Andy Warhol's Campbell Soup art challenges conventional perspectives on what's interesting.
• Henry James found inspiration in conversations most people would overlook or ignore.

Takeaways

1. Start cultivating curiosity by asking daily questions about "why" or "how."
2. Balance your knowledge—specialize in one area while staying curious about diverse fields.
3. Look at ordinary things from new perspectives to rediscover their value and importance.