Curiosity and Exploration

Curiosity and Exploration: Theories and Results provides a systematic review of research on curiosity and exploration and is intended to present theories, methods, and research findings and to compare these with other fields of psychology. The text discusses topics on various aspects of curiosity and exploration such as the historical development of curiosity research; theoretical approaches to fully explain the phenomena of curiosity and exploration; developmental perspective in the study of curiosity and exploration; and the author's summary and evaluation at the end of the book. Psychologists will find the book to be very interesting.

ContentsPreface 1. Historical Overview and the Frame of Reference of Motivational Psychology Theoretical Conceptions of Curiosity and Drive Intrinsically Motivated Exploration 2. The Conceptual Framework of Curiosity and Exploration 3. Theoretical Approaches D. E. Berlyne's Curiosity Theory P. McReynolds: A Theoretical Explanation of Exploratory Behavior Livson's Definition of Curiosity Concluding Evaluation 4. Methods I: Stimulus Determinants of Exploratory Behavior Stimulus Complexity Stimulus Novelty 5. Methods II: Recording Exploratory Behavior Visual Methods Manipulative Methods Verbal Self-Reports Projective Methods for Assessing Verbal Exploration 6. Curiosity and Exploration in the Context of Developmental Psychology "Interest in Novelty" in J. Piaget's Theory Motivational Psychology Approaches Cognitive Psychology Models, Complexity, and Age Exploration and Perceptual Development Exploration and Question Asking Outlook 7. Aspects of Differential Psychology 8. Sex Differences Animal Studies Neurophysiological Explanations Sex Differences as the Product of Child-Rearing Practices 9. Exploration, Social Class, and Culture Social Class Culture10. Exploration, Curiosity, and Intelligence 11. Curiosity and Creativity 12. Anxiety and Exploration 13. Summary and Evaluation What Is Meant by Curiosity and Exploration? Under What Circumstances Does Exploratory Behavior Occur? What Are the Consequences of Exploratory Behavior? Some Additional Considerations ReferencesAuthor IndexSubject Index