Is Curiosity a Skill or a Trait? (And How to Strengthen It)

In an age of rapid change and information overload, curiosity is more than a personality quirk—it’s a key to adaptability and success. But is curiosity a skill that can be trained, or a fixed trait you’re born with? Understanding this question has become central in conversations about workplace learning, wellness, and even mental health. Let’s explore the science behind curiosity and break down real ways to strengthen it—regardless of where you’re starting from.

What Defines Curiosity as a Skill or a Trait?

Curiosity is the desire to acquire new knowledge and experiences. It’s what drives people to explore, ask questions, and challenge the status quo. Psychologists categorize it into two types:

Epistemic curiosity: the drive to gain intellectual knowledge.
Perceptual curiosity: the desire to explore sensory stimuli.

While most people assume curiosity is just part of someone’s personality, new evidence is changing that view.

Is Curiosity a Skill or a Trait? Here’s What Research Says

The Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Traditionally, curiosity has been viewed as a trait, meaning it’s part of your personality. Some people are naturally more inquisitive, just as some are more introverted or assertive. However, emerging neuroscience and psychological research show that curiosity can also function as a skill—something that can be cultivated and refined over time.

In a 2021 study published in Nature Human Behaviour, researchers found that stimulating curiosity-related neural circuits through environmental enrichment and guided questioning actually enhanced learning and long-term memory retention (Gruber et al. 2021). That’s not just nature at work—it’s nurture, too.

Curiosity as a Learnable Process

Dr. Todd Kashdan, a leading psychologist and author of Curious?, argues that curiosity operates like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes (Kashdan 2009). His research shows that interventions such as open-ended questioning, exposure to novel environments, and mindfulness increase curiosity levels over time—even in people who start with low baseline levels.

Why Curiosity as a Skill or Trait Impacts Wellness and Success

Curiosity isn’t just a mental exercise—it affects wellness, relationships, and performance. In 2023, Gallup’s Workplace Insights Report listed curiosity as one of the top predictors of employee adaptability and job satisfaction. Curious individuals are more likely to embrace uncertainty, learn new skills, and manage stress effectively.

In wellness contexts, curiosity has been linked to:

Reduced anxiety and rumination
Greater openness to therapy
Enhanced personal growth and life satisfaction (Kidd and Hayden 2015)

Put simply, whether it’s navigating a new job or processing life challenges, curiosity provides the cognitive flexibility needed to adapt and thrive.

How to Strengthen Curiosity—Whether It’s a Skill or a Trait

You don’t have to be “naturally curious” to benefit. Here’s how to strengthen curiosity in your everyday life.

1. Ask Better Questions

Instead of defaulting to yes/no questions, practice asking open-ended questions. For example:

“What led you to that idea?”
“How does that work in real life?”

These questions spark deeper conversations and stimulate curiosity in both the asker and responder.

2. Use the “Curiosity Gap”

The curiosity gap is a powerful psychological phenomenon where the brain is unsettled by missing information. Use it intentionally—pause when you encounter something puzzling and sit with the discomfort. Look up that historical reference or unusual word instead of skipping over it. This builds your tolerance for ambiguity, a cornerstone of strengthening curiosity.

3. Change Your Routine

Routine can dull curiosity by making the world feel predictable. Small tweaks—like taking a different route home or reading from a genre you usually avoid—force the brain to process novel stimuli and ask new questions.

4. Practice Active Observation

Mindfulness and curiosity go hand-in-hand. Spend five minutes observing something closely—a tree, a room, a stranger’s gestures—and note details you normally ignore. The act of observing attentively strengthens neural pathways related to inquiry and insight (Vago and Silbersweig 2012).

5. Surround Yourself with Curious People

Curiosity is contagious. Join groups or attend events where inquiry is valued—like book clubs, workshops, or discussion forums. Exposure to questioning minds keeps your own cognitive engine running.

How Curiosity as a Skill or Trait Boosts Lifelong Learning and Health

The mental health and wellness industries are increasingly emphasizing curiosity as a core therapeutic tool. In acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), for instance, clients are taught to observe their thoughts with openness and curiosity rather than judgment. This shift promotes emotional regulation and mental flexibility—essential elements of psychological resilience.

Further, research from the University of California shows that curiosity-driven learning leads to better information retention, even of unrelated topics (Gruber, Gelman, and Ranganath 2014). That means when you’re curious about anything, you boost your brain’s ability to learn everything.

Final Thoughts:

In a digital age where attention spans are shrinking and misinformation spreads fast, cultivating curiosity is not just helpful—it’s vital. It helps people make better decisions, connect more deeply with others, and live with greater awareness and purpose.

Whether curiosity is a skill or a trait doesn’t matter as much as this: it can grow. You can strengthen curiosity just like a muscle—through practice, exposure, and reflection.

Start asking better questions, embracing uncertainty, and noticing the world with new eyes. Curiosity isn’t just for kids—it’s a life tool with far-reaching impact.

References

Gruber, M. J., Gelman, B. D., & Ranganath, C. (2014). ‘States of curiosity modulate hippocampus-dependent learning via the dopaminergic circuit’. Neuron, 84(2), pp. 486–496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2014.08.060
Kashdan, T. B. (2009). Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life. New York: William Morrow.
Kidd, C., & Hayden, B. Y. (2015). ‘The psychology and neuroscience of curiosity’. Neuron, 88(3), pp. 449–460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2015.09.010
Vago, D. R., & Silbersweig, D. A. (2012). ‘Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): A framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness’. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6, article 296. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2012.00296