Curiosity saved the cat

A three-letter word that changes everything… Why? Keep reading to find out more!

It’s Monday morning at school. The history teacher enters the class with a sneaky smile on her face. Some students don’t even notice, others keep talking to each other, while a few observe her, wondering what is going on. “Today, we shall play a role-playing game. Who wants to be Colombus for a day? Napoleon? Alexander the Great? Marie Curie? Darwin? Let’s gather them altogether… through you. You can discuss your great accomplishments with each other. Ready to pick?”.

Why is it that, although all students are in the same classroom, receiving the same information, only some of them are immediately curious and excited? Isn’t curiosity natural to everyone? Why is it important to have it?

Did we get you… curious? We have the answers for you.

What is curiosity?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, curiosity can simply be described as the desire to know. This desire can be directed to a variety of different topics, such as science, geography, history, psychology, reconstructing broken things- and so many more. In that way, this fundamental soft skill widens the mind, making one more open to different opinions, information, and topics.

So, how can we tell if a person is naturally curious? Easy. They ask questions. A LOT! They read they explore, they are open to new experiences- and are more than keen to step outside their comfort zone. When a topic interests them, they are fascinated to learn more.

“When curiosity is alive, we are attracted to many things; we discover many worlds.”

Eric Booth

So, what is the difference between the students that immediately got curious about the role-playing game compared to the students that didn’t? Are they just more interested in… history? Or is it deeper than that?

Children are naturally curious because they are learning through every single experience and social interaction. They become more observant and think about different solutions to problems. When children explore their curiosity, they further expand their vocabulary as they use language to describe what they’re thinking, seeing, hearing, or experiencing.

Why do we say yes to curiosity?

At Morphoses.io, we profoundly focus on the soft skill of curiosity, as it has been linked to numerous benefits in life.

Did you know that this soft skill has been associated with higher levels of positive emotions, lower levels of anxiety, and more satisfaction with life? Or that it leads to more enjoyment and participation in school as well as higher academic achievement?

What about curiosity and our relationships?

Being curious about other people allows us to better understand their experiences and different viewpoints. Also, this is a great way to build empathetic relationships from the beginning. Curious people have been generally rated more positively in social encounters and seem to enjoy socializing more, as they connect on a deeper level.

So… Would you agree that this goes deeper than just Colombus and Marie Curie having a chat? Exactly. Curiosity is about the whys one needs to be able to constantly ask, thus exploring- and enjoying- a world full of wonders.