Inquisitive but not discerning: Deprivation curiosity is associated with excessive openness to inaccurate information

Epistemic curiosity—the desire for knowledge—is typically thought to benefit learning. In four preregistered studies, we show that interest curiosity, a facet of epistemic curiosity characterized by joyful exploration, is indeed associated with traits and abilities These include general knowledge, intellectual humility, discernment the quality information. contrast, deprivation motivated uncertainty reduction, errors confusion. Individuals high in claim familiarity new information (Studies 1 & 3) made-up concepts 1, 2 4). They find meaning “bullshit” 3 4), believe disinformation (Study lack humility We theorize an indiscriminate openness