Because the dopamine pathways are closely linked to pathways that manage motor skills in the body, we are also triggered to physical action when we are curious; we become more efficient and involved, and also feel more empathy and sympathy. A number of studies show that curiosity enhances our social abilities and serves as a kind of social glue.
“It’s easier for us to bond with others if we are genuinely interested in how they see the world and what is important, and all the emotions that person has about a given situation,” Hamboldt says.
When you’re curious, you’re also better at reading other people’s verbal and nonverbal cues.
It becomes easier for us to appreciate how others perceive their interaction with us, we get better at processing subtle communication signals. This makes it easier for us to relax in interactions with other people. This makes curiosity a driver for relationship building.
It’s easier to open up to someone who is curious and asks follow-up questions. It creates a give-and-take and an intimacy, says Hamboldt
But this requires that we have also adopted an open attitude—otherwise our curiosity may be geared towards uncertainty or suspicion. That can lead us to become defensive, asking terse questions designed to avoid unpleasant surprises, trying to see if the person has a hidden agenda. This in turn leads to an excess of stress hormones like adrenaine, cortisol and noradrenaline.
“What’s good is that when we take an interest in others, they also find us more interesting and become curious about us as well. It’s a good idea for managers to cultivate your employees’ curiosity, and to be curious about them. That will make you seem like a more hands-on leader.” Hamboldt says.
“It’s a good idea for managers to cultivate your employees’ curiosity, and to be curious about them. That will make you seem like a more hands-on leader.”
Hamboldt says we need to build up our ability to choose curiosity, because our brains are sensitive to potential threats and automatically choose to focus on problems and negative aspects.
“We need to practice actively choosing joy and curiosity in different situations and relationships,” she says.