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Research Says the Key to Happiness Is a Healthy Sense of Curiosity

We naturally become less curious with age—but these tips will help get you out of your comfort zone.

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Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it turns out it's great for humans. Recent studies have linked it with a range of benefits, including creativity, healthy work habits and life satisfaction. A 2014 study from the British Journal of Guidance & Counselling showed that "exploratory curiosity" was one of the character strengths that predicts positive mood and self-esteem, and in research published in 2012 in the journal Personality & Individual Differences, curiosity was connected to a greater sense of hope and life purpose.

"When curious, we are more comfortable with stress, more flexible in making decisions on how to move in the direction of what is important to us despite obstacles, and it is easier to retain information which allows us to learn and grow," explains Todd Kashdan, PhD, a professor of psychology at George Mason University and author of the book The Upside of Your Dark Side. "Curious people have been shown to experience more positive social outcomes and to more accurately judge certain personality traits after brief interactions," and they are viewed by friends, family and acquaintances as highly intelligent, less anxious, and openly expressive of thoughts, feelings and ideas. "Not only does curiosity lead to a number of psychological and social benefits, but these benefits are observable to other people."

We tend to become less curious with age, as we become embedded in our own comfort zones.

Researchers have found that there are two major types of curiosity. The first is interest-type curiosity, which involves seeking out new experiences or ideas, and a desire to be "involved in the fun of new discoveries," says Jordan Litman, PhD, a researcher and associate professor of psychology at the University of Maine at Machias. Deprivation-type curiosity, on the other hand, "involves feeling deprived of information you need to answer a question or solve a logical problem," and "is all about reducing uncertainty rather than novelty seeking."

It would seem that our dependence on technology would make our curiosity muscle weak and flabby, since we're flooded with distractions and can instantly summon answers to just about any question at any time. But not to worry–curiosity does not appear to be at risk of going the way of cursive handwriting. Modern technology "has radically altered the potential to both explore the new as well as delve much deeply into any given topic," says Litman. We do however, tend to become less curious with age, says Kashdan, as we become more embedded in our own comfort zones. "The big problem with this loss of curiosity is that the one constant in the world is things are always changing, and we become psychologically weaker by avoiding situations that make us uncomfortable."  

So, how do you keep your capacity for curiosity going strong? We've got five solid tips for you right here.

1. Talk less and listen more. 

"Focus more time being interested than interesting, and pay attention to what is unique about other people's lives," says Kashdan. Look outward—ask more questions and listen intently.  Not only does this make you a more attractive human being, since few people take a deep interest in other people's stories, but "the strongest, most reliable source of growth can be found by collecting the knowledge and wisdom of other people."  

2. Expand your emotional vocabulary. 

People often give broad descriptions of how they're feeling–like saying you feel "good" or "bad," but emotions are much more complex than that. Before giving a presentation, for example, you could feel excited, anxious and doubtful at once. "Research shows that when people can parse apart their feelings—a technique called "emotion differentiation"— they are less likely to act out aggressively at work, less likely to drink alcohol, and less likely to be paralyzed by fear," says Kashdan. Get into the habit of identifying your specific feelings. "When doing this, it is easier to act on one's curiosity despite the presence of anxiety, embarrassment, guilt or any unwanted feeling or thought."

3. Try anything once. 

To strengthen your interest-type curiosity, "if you feel yourself turning away from something new, consider giving it a try instead, as long as it's safe and reasonable," says Litman. Keep in mind that new experiences–even ones we don't necessarily enjoy–can provide valuable information you might not have discovered otherwise. "This also involves being open to other points of view, welcoming differences of opinion, and accepting that finding an unexpected answer might turn out to be of great value." 

4. Give yourself a break. 

Creating buffers in your daily life allows curiosity to emerge. After a long day of laser-sharp focus at work, engage in some mindless activity like video games or Netflix bingeing, suggests Kashdan. Or after lots of socializing, take a break to get recentered with a walk in nature or reading or whatever strikes your fancy. "We need these white spaces to cleanse the palate and recharge our batteries," says Kashdan. "When our batteries are fully charged, it is easier to notice what is new, unique or mysterious around us, and act on them by asking questions or physically exploring this terrain." 

5. Go deeper. 

"When trying to understand something or someone, ask yourself, 'What is clear to me and what is it that I still don't know–what's missing? What more is there to learn?'" advises Litman. This approach can give your deprivation-type curiosity a boost. Don't assume that you know something or someone based on what you see on the surface-level. "Everything around us is an incomplete, unsolved puzzle that might be better understood by applying additional thoughtfulness and reflection."  

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