Curiosity: quick facts
Curiosity is the drive to seek out new information and explore the unknown. It is often described as arising from a noticed gap between what a person knows and what they wish to know, which creates a mild, pleasant…
Category
Complex & secondary emotions
Valence
Positive
Emotion family / blend
Wonder
Typical triggers
Novelty, unanswered questions, gaps in knowledge, mysteries, surprises
How it's expressed
Leaning forward, tilted head, raised brows, attentive gaze, questioning tone
Sources: American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley — Emotions; Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions (Robert Plutchik) — overview. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.