Kenneth Stewart, Ph.D. - Curiosity and Certainty

Curiosity and Certainty

by Ken Stewart, Ph.D.

Loving Curiosity

Hostile Curiosity

Temporary Certainty

Permanent Certainty

On Curiosity

On Certainty

Resources to help you explore this subject:

Four Themes on Curiosity and Certainty (PDF file)

Questions for Exploring Curiosity and Certainty

Loving Curiosity

	has an attitude of genuine interest in the other person
	does not assume, but instead asks questions
	seeks clarification
	seeks new knowledge
	has benign intentions
	delights in learning

invites the other to feel special, important, understood

opens up the relationship, helps the other to flourish

The Lover - The Healer

Hostile Curiosity

	is interested to the extent that new information will provide some kind of leverage
	asks questions to confirm assumptions
	seeks clarification for the purposes of entrapment
	seeks new knowledge for the purposes of tripping up the other person
	has intentions to overpower, control, or demean the other
	learns only as much as is deemed necessary invites the other to feel cornered, trapped, accused

closes the relationship down, overpowers the other

The Prosecuting Attorney - The Manipulator

Temporary Certainty

	is pretty sure what happened, but is open to other points of view
	is fairly confident, but still asks questions to expand the picture
	knows that absolute clarity if never fully attained
	seeks new knowledge to fill in the gaps
	has intentions to act and to be effective, but with sensitivity and caution
	in always open to revising conclusions invites the other to participate, to add ideas to the conversation helps to create a strong team

The Critical Thinker - The Scientist

Permanent Certainty

	assumes one knows what happened - or "the way it is"
	assumes one has an "objective" point of view
	assumes utter clarity of perceptions
	does not question the meaning of events drawn from experiences
	has intentions of imposing a particular point of view
	is not interested in learning new learning other than to reinforce previous views invites the other to keep silent, rebel, or write you off diminishes or wipes out the other person

The Rigid Fundamentalist - The Bully

On Curiosity - Questions to ponder . . .

What were your experiences of curiosity in your own family ?

Who else in your life has had an impact on your attitude of curiosity ?

In what contexts have you learned or turned to curiosity ?

What effects might curiosity have on your relationships ?

What effects does curiosity have on your learning ?

Under what circumstances do you feel least like being curious?

Under what circumstances does curiosity seem necessary ?

On Certainty - Questions to ponder . . .

What were your experiences of certainty in your own family ?

Who else in your life has had an impact on your attitude of certainty ?

In what contexts have you learned or turned to certainty ?

What effects might certainty have on your relationships ?

What effects does certainty have on your learning ?

Under what circumstances do you feel least like being certain?

Under what circumstances does certainty seem necessary ?