Curiosity and Exploration

Exploration and play behaviour form the subject of this book, in which a wide range of research activities, both theoretical and practical, are presented from various fields. In particular, the emphasis on applications (for example, in the development of software) demonstrates the integrated approach to basic and applied research. The authors come from many different countries and represent various theoretical approaches, enabling the reader to acquire an up-to-date overview of the field and thus form an opinion of his/her own regarding this field of research.

I: Introduction.- I.0 Preface: The Study of Exploration.- I.1 Fairy Tales and Curiosity. Exploratory Behavior in Literature for Children or the Futile Attempt to Keep Girls from the Spindle.- II: Function and Motivational Mechanics of Exploration.- II.2 An Ethological Conception of Exploratory Behavior.- II.3 The Neurobiological Foundation of Exploration.- II.4 Two Characteristics of Surprise: Action Delay and Attentional Focus.- II.5 Interest and Curiosity. The Role of Interest in a Theory of Exploratory Action.- II.6 Interest and Exploration: Exploratory Action in the Context of Interest Genesis.- III: Development and Interindividual Differences.- III.7 The Relationship Between Attachment, Temperament, and Exploration.- III.8 Interindividual Differences in the Development of Exploratory Behavior: Methodological Considerations.- III. 9 Preschoolers’ Exploratory Behavior: The Influence of the Social and Physical Context.- III. 10 A Developmental Analysis of Exploration Styles.- III.11 Individual Differences in Experience-Producing Tendencies.- IV: The Interconnections of Exploratory Behavior and other Behavioral Systems.- IV. 12 The Active Exploratory Nature of Perceiving: Some Developmental Implications.- IV. 13 The Process and Consequences of Manipulative Exploration.- IV. 14 Motivational and Cognitive Determants of Exploration.- V: Applied Perspectives.- V. 15 Computer Systems as Exploratory Environments.- V. 16 Urban Development for Children Reexploring a New Research Area.- VI: Epilogue.- VI. 17 Applause for Aurora: Sociobiological Considerations on Exploration and Play.- Author Index.