Ian Leslie
Ian Leslie is a writer on psychology and culture and the author of Born Liars (2011), Curious (2014) and Conflicted (2021).
Who they are
Leslie writes for general readers about human behaviour. In Curious he argues that curiosity peaks when people know enough to see what they are missing, and that complete ignorance produces little of it. He also separates puzzles, which end when solved, from mysteries, which keep inviting inquiry.
The article on mystery boxes uses both ideas to explain why a hidden prize can hold attention.
Key papers
Leslie, I. (2014), Curious.
Key ideas
Curiosity peaks when people can see what they are missing.
Mysteries sustain curiosity for longer than puzzles.
Sources
- Leslie, I. (2014), Curious.