@article {3194349,
	title = {
	Urges now, interests later: On the factors and dynamics of epistemic curiosity

},
	journal = {Cognition},
	volume = {259},
	year = {2025},
	abstract = {<meta charset="UTF-8">More information today is becoming more accessible to more people at an ever-growing rate. How does epistemic curiosity operate in this expanding informational landscape? We test a novel theory which postulates that experienced curiosity is a function of two psychological factors: Interest, which is cognitive, {\textquotedblleft}cool{\textquotedblright} and relatively stable in time, and Urge that is {\textquotedblleft}hot{\textquotedblright} and quick to rise and decay. These factors determine one{\textquoteright}s experienced curiosity at any given point in time. Interestingly, these temporal dynamics may lead to time-dependent changes in epistemic choices. In a series of forced-choice experiments (<em>n</em>\&nbsp;=\&nbsp;702), participants chose between receiving answers to either high-Urge or high-Interest questions. Consistent with predictions derived from our theory, we found a present-bias in preference for Urge. Our theory explains why, in stark contrast to individual interest and with the potential to derail public discourse, a competition for our attention inherently incentivizes the use of inciting and sensational information. We present and test a theory-based behavioral nudge that partially ameliorates these effects.},
	url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2025.106107},
	author = {Ohad Dan and Maya Leshkowitz and Ohad Livnat and Ran R. Hassin}
}
