# interest (psychological)

a state that makes a person want to learn about something

- Computed level: L8 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: psychological  ·  Arena: emergence

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [want](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-want.desire), [knowledge](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-knowledge.cognitive), [learn](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-learn.cognitive), [make](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-make.verb), [people](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-people.social), [state](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-state.condition)

**Through:** desire to learn combines with the presence of something to know, creating a focused mental state

**Novel properties:**
- focused attention
- exploratory drive
- cognitive engagement

## Examples
- Ada Lovelace wrote extensive notes on the Analytical Engine, speculating on its potential beyond calculation. *(history)*
- The Hubble Space Telescope's public image releases consistently drive spikes in astronomy course enrollments. *(science)*
- Minecraft players spend hours building complex redstone circuits without external rewards. *(gaming)*

## Used by
- [popular](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-popular.social) (L9)

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-interest.psychological*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-interest.psychological.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*