Curiosity helps adolescents make sense of the world and themselves, especially as they experience things for the first time. It encourages them to have an imagination and try new things, which stimulates development and learning in different parts of their lives. 

Curiosity is the desire or willingness to learn and discover new things, such as a new environment or topic.

Portraying curious adolescent characters in media can encourage young audiences to navigate new experiences and learn about themselves and the world around them.

Download the tip sheet below!

Media should depict curiosity as a crucial quality in teenagers, but it doesn't look the same for everyone. How comfortable and safe someone feels expressing their curiosity can depend on their life experiences and identity, like their gender, sexuality, race, or disability. Unfortunately, historically, some groups, like marginalized ones, haven't felt secure expressing their curiosity, whether physically, emotionally, or mentally. They've faced problems when they wanted to learn or explore. For example, a Black boy curious about his surroundings might feel the need to be cautious because he's afraid people might see his curiosity in a negative light. It's important to know that curiosity can be different for people based on their unique identities and experiences. So, media should authentically show adolescents from various backgrounds being curious to promote understanding, respect, and fairness among different communities.

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CURIOSITY

More Virtues

GRATITUDE

HUMILITY

Humility
Gratitude

Thank you to the following Advisory Council members for helping put together this tip sheet: Jason Baehr, David Devries, Dr. Laurel Felt, Jill Hotchkiss, Dr. Marie-Louise Mares, Caroline Mehl, Hannah Minghella, and Jill Sanford

Thank you to the following research team for being a part of this project: Jasmine Baten, Mireille Karadanaian, and Marika Zappas

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