Surprisingly, Not Impossible

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the theoretical relationship between minimally counterintuitive concepts and curiosity. In particular, it explores a stimulant for curiosity known as surprisingness and how certain categories under this umbrella, such as improbability and impossibility, may be perceived differently by children. In this paper, I will make the assertion that minimally counterintuitive (MCI) concepts may function as a significant trigger for curiosity that provides insight into the broader question of children’s ability to classify improbable concepts, and I will present a study conducted with 20 participants, aged 4 and 5 years old, that tests the hypothesis that MCI concepts trigger curiosity and encompass an optimal level of surprisingness for triggering it.

Keywords:​ curiosity, minimally counterintuitive (MCI), improbability, impossibility, surprisingness