Can you teach curiosity?

I ended my keynote for 450 nursing school deans with a question: Can you teach curiosity?. I believe curiosity sits at the core of anyone who wants to build anything new. And post ChatGPT haven’t we all learned it’s about asking the right questions. Recently I asked the question of Don Finley, when he hosted me on his podcast, The Human Code, which caused him to have some discussion and do his own research. Here are some leanings.

Nature

Studies in developmental psychology demonstrate that infants and young children exhibit natural curiosity, engaging in exploratory behavior from an early age (Harris, 2012; Gopnik, 2016). This innate curiosity is essential for learning and development. Neuroscientific research has identified specific brain regions and systems involved in curiosity, including the dopamine system, which plays a crucial role in motivation and reward processing (Gruber et al., 2014).

Nurture

While humans are born with a natural inclination towards curiosity, it can be nurtured, encouraged, or suppressed by environmental factors. Research suggests curiosity is a stable trait across the lifespan, but it can be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors (Kashdan & Ciarrochi, 2013). Factors such as fear of judgment, stress, and lack of time can stifle curiosity, whereas fostering a growth mindset, encouraging questions, and providing opportunities for hands-on learning can enhance curiosity (Dweck, 2006).

Teaching Curiosity

So perhaps we can teach curiosity by:

1. Removing barriers to help innate curiosity resurface.
2. Encouraging exploration by fostering a growth mindset, encouraging questions, and providing opportunities for hands-on learning.
3. If you’re a curious person then model curiosity, demonstrate curiosity, it can inspire and encourage it in those around them.

And the next time in a group of friends, or a staff meeting, or a lecture ask the question — Can you teach curiosity?

References:

• Harris, P. L. (2012). Trusting What You’re Told: How Children Learn from Others. Harvard University Press.
• Gopnik, A. (2016). The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children.
• Gruber, M. J., Gelman, B. D., & Ranganath, C. (2014). States of Curiosity Modulate Hippocampus-Dependent Learning via the Dopaminergic Circuit. Neuron.
• Farrar, Straus and Giroux.Loewenstein, G. (1994). The Psychology of Curiosity: A Review and Reinterpretation. Psychological Bulletin.
• Kashdan, T. B., & Silvia, P. J. (2009). Curiosity and Interest: The Benefits of Thriving on Novelty and Challenge. Handbook of Positive Psychology.
• Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.