Studying the Trait of Curiosity

Personality is defined to be a dynamic organization of psychophysical systems that create a person’s characteristic pattern of behavior, thoughts, and feelings (Carver & Scheier, 2012). The goal of the psychological field of personality is to explain how and why people are different from one another. This field began with Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Perspective; this perspective was founded on the premise that he believed that things hidden deep in a person’s unconscious could be revealed in a person’s daily acts such as dreams, free association, and slips of the tongue. Following Freud’s theory, a number of other theories were proposed in the attempt to explain the phenomenon of why people are all so different. Among these theorists were big names such as: Erik Erikson, Alfred Adler, Abraham Maslow, Carl Jung, Hans Eysenck, and Karen Horney. All of these theorists made grand attempts to explain the different patterns of personality and how they are formed. One trait that has gained much attention from psychologists and has been studied under a various number of perspectives is the character trait of curiosity. Curiosity is commonly viewed as the eagerness to learn about the unknown. This trait can have many effects on one’s life and behaviors. The trait of curiosity is typically seen as a combination of both a positive and negative aspect of one’s personality, depending on the situation in which it is observed. For example, a curious person may be very inquisitive and ask numerous questions on a daily basis. In this situation, curiosity is viewed as an annoyance and something that proves one’s incompetence. Another possibility is for a curious person to research multiple aspects of life and become very well-knowledgeable in m...

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...e way that I am, it is what has fueled and built my interests ranging from photography to my love of swimming. Although the disadvantages of being very curious were not pleasant and were difficult to deal with as a child, I am glad that I was strong enough to overcome the social aversion and not let it keep me from continuing a life of curiosity. However, I do believe the advantages of the trait to be true and representative in my life, I have always been successful in my academic endeavors and I have a strong ability to effectively solve problems. I have also been told repeatedly that I am a good listener and that people feel comfortable talking to me. Whether or not this has a direct connection to my curiousness, there is believed to be a very strong relationship between these characteristics, and my life is certainly a good example of this perceived relationship.