Psychologists have always been interested in interest, and so modern research on interest can be found in nearly every area of the field: Researchers studying emotions, cognition, development, education, aesthetics, personality, motivation, and vocations have developed intriguing ideas about what interest is and how it works. Exploring the Psychology of Interest presents an integrated picture of how interest has been studied in all the wide-ranging areas of psychology. Using modern theories of cognition and emotion as an integrative framework, Paul Silvia examines the nature of interest, what makes things interesting, the role of interest in personality, and the development of peoples idiosyncratic interests, hobbies, and avocations. His examination reveals deep similarities between seemingly different fields of psychology and illustrates the profound importance of interest, curiosity, and intrinsic motivation for understanding why people do what they do. The most comprehensive work of its kind, Exploring the Psychology of Interest will be a valuable resource for student and professional researchers in cognitive, social, and developmental psychology.
| Introduction | 3 | |
| Part I | Interest and Emotion | |
| 1 | Interest as an Emotion | 13 |
| 2 | What Is Interesting? | 31 |
| 3 | Interest and Learning | 65 |
| Part II | Interests and Personality | |
| 4 | Interest, Personality, and Individual Differences | 87 |
| 5 | Interests and Motivational Development | 113 |
| 5 | How Do Interests Develop? Bridging Emotion and Personality | 131 |
| 7 | Interests and Vocations | 153 |
| Part III | Extensions and Conclusions | |
| 8 | Comparing Models of Interest | 183 |
| 9 | Conclusion: Looking Back, Looking Ahead | 201 |
| References | 211 | |
| Author Index | 249 | |
| Subject Index | 259 |
Anonymous
Posted December 22, 2009
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Overview
Psychologists have always been interested in interest, and so modern research on interest can be found in nearly every area of the field: Researchers studying emotions, cognition, development, education, aesthetics, personality, motivation, and vocations have developed intriguing ideas about what interest is and how it works. Exploring the Psychology of Interest presents an integrated picture of how interest has been studied in all the wide-ranging areas of psychology. Using modern theories of cognition and ...