Skip to main content

REVIEW article

Front. Psychol.
Sec. Positive Psychology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1379330
This article is part of the Research Topic Improving Wellbeing through Positive Interpersonal and Intergroup Relations View all 7 articles

Interpersonal Curiosity as a Tool to Foster Safe Relational Spaces: A Narrative Literature Review

Provisionally accepted
Mélanie Letendre Jauniaux Mélanie Letendre Jauniaux *Heather Lawford Heather Lawford
  • Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, Canada

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Interpersonal curiosity (IPC), or the desire for information about others, is a core component of human connection, belonging, security, survival, and flourishing. Current research on leveraging IPC is scarce, making it an overlooked mechanism for building safer relational spaces. This narrative literature review attempts to answer the following questions: How can IPC facilitate safe relational spaces? How can this knowledge be made accessible and actionable for readers working in relational fields or public health? Results from the analysis of 23 articles indicate that IPC can manifest as either a trait or a state. At best, IPC can be a powerful tool for connection. At worst, IPC can lead to non-prosocial behaviors and relational disruptions. Suggestions are provided to harness the potential of IPC to foster quality connection and safer relational spaces.

    Keywords: interpersonal curiosity1, relational spaces2, safer spaces3, curiosity4, narrative literature review5 (Min.5-Max. 8 Normal, Space Before: 12 pt, Font Alignment: Auto Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman Font: (Default) Times New Roman Font: (Default) Times New Roman Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt

    Received: 31 Jan 2024; Accepted: 24 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Letendre Jauniaux and Lawford. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Mélanie Letendre Jauniaux, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke, Canada

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.