What Doesn’t Kill the Cat Makes it Creative: Complex Interplay Between Trait Curiosity and Creativity

Understanding the interplay between trait curiosity and creativity is crucial in unraveling how humans transform ego-drive into innovation. Here we employed network analysis to explore the complex interplay between trait curiosity and multifaceted creativity in a sample of 1424 individuals. The findings indicate that trait curiosity, particularly the dimensions of stretching and embracing, plays a central role in fostering creative engagement and self-concept. Additionally, the study reveals a multidimensional structure within the trait curiosity-creativity network, identifying five distinct dimensions that highlight the complex interplay between trait curiosity, personality traits, and multifaceted creativity. The results highlight curiosity as a core component of creative potential and suggest that encouraging curiosity may be valuable for enriching creativity across various domains.