Summary:
Curiosity supports learning and engagement throughout life, and people who show higher curiosity traits tend to perform better academically and report more meaningful experiences. Trait curiosity refers to a person’s general, stable tendency to seek out new knowledge and find many things interesting. In contrast, state curiosity reflects a momentary desire to learn specific information when confronted with a knowledge gap. Previous research suggests that older adults often pursue learning for enjoyment and may benefit cognitively from mentally stimulating activities. However, theories of aging predict that general curiosity may decline because older adults prioritise emotionally meaningful goals over knowledge acquisition. At the same time, other evidence shows that older adults can become more curious when new information connects to what they already know, drawing on their richer semantic knowledge base. This large correlational investigation was conducted to clarify these patterns. The study measured trait curiosity using questionnaires and state curiosity using ratings of interest in learning answers to trivia questions. In more than 1,200 adults aged 20-84, trait curiosity decreased with age, whereas state curiosity increased. Older adults showed stronger momentary curiosity even though they guessed fewer answers correctly. Further analyses suggested that middle‑aged adults showed the lowest state curiosity, while older adults showed the highest. Together, the findings indicate that aging affects different forms of curiosity in different ways: general curiosity declines, but moment‑specific curiosity, especially when tied to familiar knowledge, can increase.
Read the Complete Article >
Abstract:
Maintaining curiosity in older age may be a key predictor of successful aging, but prior research on the relationship between curiosity and age is mixed, with mounting evidence showing that curiosity declines with age. However, there is evidence suggesting that state curiosity – a situational feeling of curiosity in response to information – may increase with age. Prior work has largely not adequately differentiated state and trait curiosity when examining its relationship with age. In a large lifespan sample (pilot study N = 193; preregistered main study N = 1,218), we assess trait curiosity and state curiosity (using a trivia rating task) to examine the relationship between each construct and age. The results show that, in line with prior work, trait curiosity shows a negative relationship with age, but state curiosity shows a positive relationship with age, while controlling for demographic variables. The results suggest that curiosity may have a more complex relationship with age than previously considered, which can have implications for engagement in cognitive activities in everyday life.
Article Publication Date: 07/05/2025
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320600
