Some people find excitement in knowing new things. There is something about studying everything about a topic - from the technical to the literary - identifying its nuances and pouring hours upon hours of reading and studying. This habit is commonly known as being a nerd.
In a neurobiological context, the excitement and stimulation from learning something new is nothing more than an influx of dopamine. However, as American psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman explains, it happens "not where we traditionally think of this neurotransmitter flowing."
The Science of Nerdiness
Writing for the Scientific American, Kaufman explains: "the potential for growth from disorder has been encoded deeply into our DNA." Humans have evolved past the ability to simply regulate its impulses, gaining the capacity for making sense of the unknown - driving the growth of humans as a species.
While dopamine is popularly known as a "happy hormone," Kaufman cites neuroscientist Colin DeYoung from the University of Minnesota. DeYoung calls dopamine "the neuromodulator of exploration" in a report published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. He proposed a theory in the role of the neurochemical, explaining the diversity in its response as documented by previous studies. In a separate paper, DeYoung proposed the connection of dopamine with the reward value of information, explaining the drive in some people to engage in behavioral forms of exploration. These people often find themselves curious and interested with the prospect of learning new information, integrating these data as a fuel for personal growth. These "cognitive needs" are just as important for a holistic development of an individual.
Therefore, nerds are most like the same people who have increased sensitivity to the reward value of information. While other people are interested in collecting toys or cars, or in having intimate relations with other people, nerds are generally turned on by the promise of learning new and exciting things.
Turning the Nerd Light Off
The etymology of the term nerd remains unclear, with its first documented appearance being a weird creature in the Dr. Seuss book "If I Ran the Zoo," released in 1950. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, it was probably an alteration of a slang term in the 1940s, nert, which means a stupid or crazy person.
However, the term has taken on a negative connotation over the years - referring to overly bookish people, often paired with misconceptions of social ineptitude. As a result, it has become a negative slang, especially among children. Child psychologist David Anderegg explains being a nerd as a "bundle of different qualities," mostly a mix of academic proficiency, "interest in precision," lack of self-consciousness, and interest in fantasy. In the United States alone, Anderegg tackles the notion that "nerds are bad and jocks are good," perpetuating negative stereotypes against nerds and promoting inclination towards athletics.
One of its negative effects among children and later, the nation's development, is when kids shut down parts of themselves to fit in what they believe are social norms. "When these bright children start switching off their own lights to avoid being branded nerds, it is bad news for everyone-and for the economy," Anderegg explains.
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