Date of Award

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Graham, Steven

Keywords

Curiosity, Self-Esteem, Self-Compassion

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

This thesis attempts to demonstrate that an increase in state self-esteem or state self-compassion will result in an increase in state curiosity. Forty-nine participants were split into three groups, one in which only self-esteem was raised, one in which only self-compassion was raised, and a control group. After the manipulations, all participants completed the State-Trait Personality Inventory, the Heatherton & Polivy State Self-esteem Scale, the Self-compassion Scale, and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale. After this, participants were presented with an optional reading task that functioned as a measure of behavioral curiosity. The mean scores for self-esteem, self-compassion, and curiosity between conditions were compared. There was no significant difference between conditions for mean self-esteem, self-compassion, or curiosity, indicating that the manipulations did not function, and curiosity was not induced. Future research is needed in order to determine how curiosity relates to self-esteem and self-compassion, as well as how curiosity functions in human behavior.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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