Eastern Illinois University The Keep Masters Theses Student Theses & Publications Fall 2020 Relationship between One’s Motive for Curiosity and Meaning in Life Charles Reither Eastern Illinois University Follow this and additional works at: https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses Part of the Clinical Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Reither, Charles, "Relationship between One’s Motive for Curiosity and Meaning in Life" (2020). Masters Theses. 4845. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/4845 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses & Publications at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Running Head: CURIOSITY AND MEANING IN LIFE Relationship between One’s Motive for Curiosity and Meaning in Life Charles Reither Eastern Illinois University 2 Abstract Meaning in life as a psychological construct has many demonstrated benefits for psychological well-being and optimal functioning (Steger, 2013), and the treatment of clinical populations (Thir & Batthyány, 2016). This study investigated in greater detail than is currently available in the psychological literature how meaning in life is related to curiosity. Meaning in life was explored using top-down (the presence of and the search for meaning) and bottom-up (the specific sources of meaning) approaches. Curiosity was examined in its two motivation- based forms: curiosity motivated by the anticipation and enjoyment of discovery (an appetitive interest-type of curiosity) and curiosity motivated by a need to reduce uncertainty by filling in worrisome gaps in knowledge (a deprivation-type anxiety-reducing type of curiosity).