Curiosity is taking an interest in ongoing experience for its own sake; finding subjects and topics fascinating; exploring and discovering (Peterson & Seligman, 2004).
There’s extensive research, dating back to the late 70s, about curiosity. The tools developed and used to assess this trait are all self-report questionnaires. Some have inadequate psychometric properties, but others provide useful information.
Peterson and Seligman offer insights into each, concluding with the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory (CEI). This tool consists of seven items. The researchers state that this assessment has “good psychometric properties and construct validity” (p. 133). You can access the CEI-II, a ten-item scale from MIDSS. It takes less than two minutes to complete.
Current research is asking a slightly different question. Rather than “How curious are you?” Kashdan, Disabato, Goodman, and Naughton (2018) are asking, “How are you curious?”
They’ve identified five dimensions of curiosity using a 25-item questionnaire. They are:
- Deprivation Sensitivity – Deep need to fill knowledge gaps.
- Joyous Exploration – Finding the world to be a fascinating place.
- Social Curiosity – Wanting to know what others are thinking and doing.
- Stress Tolerance – Accepting and using the anxiety associated with new experiences.
- Thrill Seeking – Risk-taking behavior that gives “varied, complex, and intense experiences” (Kashdan et al., 2018)
The team uncovered a few interesting results while working with two large organizations. For instance:
- intense positive emotions have a strong link with joyous exploration
- competency, autonomy, and belongness have a strong link to stress tolerance
- being kind, generous, and modest has a strong link to social curiosity
- four of the dimensions improve work outcomes, particularly stress tolerance and social curiosity
- 84% of the people in their Merck KGaA study believe curiosity leads to new ideas
The study of curiosity isn’t a “one size fits most” endeavor. Scientists like Kashdan advocate taking what he calls a nuanced approach.
Curiosity correlates highest with zest, love of learning, creativity, hope, and perspective (Niemiec, 2018).
Judgment
Also called open-mindedness or critical thinking, judgment is thinking things through. Peterson and Seligman emphasize that it’s “not jumping to conclusions” (2004, p. 29). Judgment is the ability to take in new evidence and change one’s mind if necessary. It’s weighing information fairly.
Researchers approach the assessment of judgment in three ways:
- Self-report surveys
- Content analysis of verbal statements
- Expert analysis of arguments
You can find several examples in Character Strengths and Virtues (Peterson & Seligman, 2004, p. 147). Here are three, one from each category:
- Dogmatism Scale (self-report survey) – Read: Dogmatism updated: A scale revision and validation
- Integrative Complexity (content analysis of verbal statements) – See: University of Montana Automated Integrative Complexity
- Argument Evaluation Test (expert analysis of arguments) – See: Critical Thinking Worksite: Argument Evaluation
Exercising good judgment isn’t easy even when it’s a person’s strength. It requires one to identify personal biases, and work against them to assess the situation fairly; be less self-centered, and understand the impermanence of many decisions. Oftentimes, people forget that course-corrections are possible after a judgment error.
Judgment/critical thinking correlates highest with perspective, prudence, honesty, love of learning, and fairness (Niemiec, 2018).
Love of Learning
Peterson and Seligman (2004) describe a love of learning as “mastering new skills, topics, and bodies of knowledge.” Formal or informal education isn’t important. Love of learning involves systematically adding to one’s knowledge base.
You might have this in your top five if you strongly agree with the following statements (Peterson & Seligman, 2004, p. 163):
- I can’t do the task now, but I think I’ll be able to do it in the future.
- I like to learn new things
- I’ll do whatever it takes in order to do a task correctly.
- Learning is a positive experience
- I care more about doing a thorough job than whether I receive a good grade.
Love of learning doesn’t typically fall in the top five for most people. In fact, it shows up about 27% of the time placing it in the top ten.
Having a love of learning translates into a motivational superpower. People with this strength tend to persist in the face of challenges (VIA Character Institute, n.d.). Learning invigorates them.
There are five conditions that affect a person’s ability to find connections so that content is more easily learned. Think about a subject with which you struggled in school. If you were able to master it, what factors helped you do that? If you were unable to succeed, what was missing?
Peterson and Seligman (2004) highlight the following characteristics or traits:
- positive feelings about the specific content area
- knowledge about the content area relative to the other involvements they have
- belief that a task is doable
- curiosity about a task that manifests itself in the asking of curious questions
- the ability to identify and make use of resources in order to work on a task.
There are several measurement tools available to determine one’s love of learning (Peterson & Seligman, 2004, p. 165). They fall into four categories:
- Motivational orientation
- Competence
- Value
- Well-developed individual interest
Love of learning is universal, but the way it takes shape isn’t. Culture does play a role in how it comes to fruition. There aren’t necessarily gender differences either. Males don’t have a stronger predisposition for a love of learning than females (Peterson & Seligman, 2004, p. 172-73).
Love of learning correlates highest with curiosity, appreciation of beauty/excellence, judgment/critical thinking, creativity, and zest (Niemiec, 2018).
Perspective
Wise counsel is the trademark of perspective. It’s the ability to look at the world and see your role, as well as the role of others, in it. From the standpoint of onlookers, how this person views things clicks. It makes sense.
The Vlogbrothers, John and Hank Green offer a steady supply of wisdom laced with perspective. Here’s an example you might enjoy.
What our readers think
The Root of Wisdom is knowing what an asshole we really are.
Truly excellent. Thank you.
Interesting
Good for clarity n learning.
Here’s a definition of wisdom that I like. Wisdom is the application of the right principle at the right time, as a response to difficult circumstances, that furthers a life affirming outcome.
Wisdom is seeing things as they are and doing things as they should be done.
My top 5 strength are Creativity, Love of learning, Judgment,Curiosity and Perspective. I’m HVAC technician.Seems like i need to change my career. What do you think?
lol then you should be wise enough to decide what’s best for you…
Love this. Thank you for sharing!