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Editor's note: Curiosity and happiness are mutually reinforcing, and when you explore new things out of curiosity, you forget your worries and anxieties, and when you feel happy, you become more curious about new things. A curious adult will be more focused and engaged in the face of the uncertainty that comes with something new. In the face of difficulties, curious people are not easily defeated, and they will show better adaptability or "perseverance" when exploring new concepts or scenarios. Adults face a complex world and need to be curious. This article is translated from Medium, originally titled "Curiosity Is the Secret to a Happy Life", and hopes to inspire you.
Anyone who has been in contact with children knows that their heads are full of curiosity. Small children ask almost more questions in 10 minutes than adults ask in 10 days. Children are the embodiment of curiosity.
But as we age, the source of curiosity slowly dries up. The study found that people's openness to new experiences and new emotions declined with age, while indifference increased.
Mental health researchers have been aware of this age-related decline in curiosity for years. They also note that high levels of curiosity are often associated with different measures of mental health and vitality. A 2018 paper published in neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews found that maintaining curiosity in old age helps prevent cognitive decline and physical functioning. Compared to those who were not curious, the curious elderly performed better on memory and general cognitive function tests. The paper's authors note that curiosity activates brain regions associated with other advanced cognitive processes, and this enhanced activation over time may help explain some of the benefits of curiosity to the brain.
In addition, the study found that high levels and sustained curiosity, both young and old, are associated with mental health and life satisfaction. Curious people also don't seem to be prone to depression.
As scientists investigate curiosity more deeply, they also find more and more evidence that curiosity is the secret to a happy and fulfilling life. Todd Kashdan, author of Curiosity and a professor of psychology at George Mason University, said: "Imagine the most basic things that everyone wants to have in life – strong social connections, happiness and fulfillment – and you'll find that these are all highly correlated with curiosity." ”
What does it mean to be curious? Kashdan said: "According to the classic definition in the dictionary, curiosity is the desire to explore new knowledge and new experiences. This definition is a starting point, and he says curiosity also includes a willingness to engage with complex, unknown, challenging concepts or endeavors.
Kashdan has helped develop two widely used scientific models for measuring curiosity. The latest model disassembles curiosity into five different categories, or "dimensions." He calls the first dimension "happy exploration," much like the dictionary definition of curiosity. The second and third dimensions are related to people's concentration and commitment in the face of uncertainty brought about by new things. "When you explore new areas" — like a fitness class you've never attended or have dinner with new friends — "you're likely to feel stressed and anxious," he says, adding that while these states are often considered negative, curious people aren't easily defeated by them. In other words, they will show resilience or "perseverance" when exploring new concepts or scenarios.
As scientists delve deeper into curiosity, they also find more and more evidence that curiosity is the secret to a happy and fulfilling life.
"The fourth dimension is thrill-seeking, that is, a willingness to take financial, social, or personal risks in pursuit of new experiences," he explains. "Thrill-seeking forms can be extreme sports, experimenting with hallucinogens or starting a business. The fifth and final dimension is "social curiosity," that is, interest in the opinions and opinions of others.
In some or all of these five dimensions of curiosity metrics, people who score high have almost surpassed the question of happiness or contentment. Kashdan said: "When you are immersed in exploring new things and getting a fun experience from it, you don't stop to ask yourself if you are happy or frustrated. ”
That said, there is some evidence that the relationship between curiosity and happiness is two-way, and they complement each other. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Personality found that when people experience positive emotions like being happy, they show a stronger curiosity than when they are unhappy. Such findings have prompted some researchers to make the assumption that the existence of positive emotions may help to some extent stimulate curiosity and the fruitful exploration that comes with it.
"There's an 'expand and build' theory that positive emotions have many roles, and one of them is to engage us in things we wouldn't normally do," said David Lydon-Staley, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow in the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Bioengineering.
But is there anything you can do to stimulate a person's curiosity? Lydon-Stree's research found that exercise seems to spark curiosity. Exercise may be about stimulating curiosity by improving a person's mood. (The improving effect of exercise on mood has been demonstrated.) ）
Kashdan says strong relationships also seem to have a stimulating effect on curiosity, "Having a stable relationship is like having a home camp in a label game, giving people less restraint and more freedom to explore." ”
But by far the most effective way to stimulate curiosity is to meet strangers, explore new places, and embrace new perspectives. Cashdan says disgusting with unfamiliar things — what he calls "premature autism" — stifles curiosity. But novelty, even initial discomfort or fear, can act as fertilizer for curiosity. "The more new experiences or new knowledge you have, the more you learn that you have too little to master, which makes further exploration more attractive," he says. At the same time, exposure to new things often depletes its ability to bring anxiety. "The most anxiety you can feel is always when you're expecting something new. Stick with it and you'll find that anxiety is manageable and can even be enjoyable. ”
You may feel safe in the face of familiar things, but curiosity and the novel experiences that nourish curiosity will lead you to a fuller and more meaningful life.
Translator: Jane