Curiosity protects against interpersonal aggression: cross-sectional, daily process, and behavioral evidence

Journal of Personality
Todd B KashdanPeggy S Keller

Abstract

Curiosity is the propensity to recognize and seek out new information and experience, including an intrinsic interest in learning and developing one's knowledge. With few exceptions, researchers have often ignored the social consequences of being curious. In four studies using cross-sectional (N = 64), daily diary (Ns = 150 and 110, respectively), and behavioral experimental (N= 132) designs, we tested the hypothesis that individual differences in curiosity are linked to less aggression, even when people are provoked. We showed that both trait and daily curiosity were linked to less aggressive responses toward romantic relationship partners and people who caused psychological hurt. In time-lagged analyses, daily curiosity predicted less aggression from one day to the next, with no evidence for the reverse direction. Studies 3 and 4 showed that the inverse association between curiosity and aggression was strongest in close relationships and in fledgling (as opposed to long-lasting) romantic relationships. That is, highly curious people showed evidence of greater context sensitivity. Intensity of hurt feelings and other personality and relationship variables failed to account for these effects. Curiosity is a neglected mechanism ...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 8, 2014·Cognition & Emotion·Kyla A MachellTodd B Kashdan
Feb 27, 2016·Journal of Personality·Fallon R GoodmanKyla A Machell
Nov 27, 2018·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Tridip Jyoti BorahIrina Jugl
Sep 14, 2019·Journal of Personality·David M Lydon-StaleyDanielle S Bassett
Nov 25, 2020·Journal of Hospital Medicine : an Official Publication of the Society of Hospital Medicine·Lily Rotman DevarajArabella Simpkin Begin
Sep 1, 2018·Journal of Child and Family Studies·Karen BluthChristine Lathren

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