I: Introduction -- I.0 Preface: The Study of Exploration -- I.1 Fairy Tales and Curiosity. Exploratory Behavior in Literature for Children or the Futile Attempt to Keep Girls from the Spindle -- II: Function and Motivational Mechanics of Exploration -- II.2 An Ethological Conception of Exploratory Behavior -- II.3 The Neurobiological Foundation of Exploration -- II.4 Two Characteristics of Surprise: Action Delay and Attentional Focus -- II.5 Interest and Curiosity. The Role of Interest in a Theory of Exploratory Action -- II.6 Interest and Exploration: Exploratory Action in the Context of Interest Genesis -- III: Development and Interindividual Differences -- III.7 The Relationship Between Attachment, Temperament, and Exploration -- III.8 Interindividual Differences in the Development of Exploratory Behavior: Methodological Considerations -- III. 9 Preschoolers' Exploratory Behavior: The Influence of the Social and Physical Context -- III. 10 A Developmental Analysis of Exploration Styles -- III.11 Individual Differences in Experience-Producing Tendencies -- IV: The Interconnections of Exploratory Behavior and other Behavioral Systems -- IV. 12 The Active Exploratory Nature of Perceiving: Some Developmental Implications -- IV. 13 The Process and Consequences of Manipulative Exploration -- IV. 14 Motivational and Cognitive Determants of Exploration -- V: Applied Perspectives -- V. 15 Computer Systems as Exploratory Environments -- V. 16 Urban Development for Children Reexploring a New Research Area -- VI: Epilogue -- VI. 17 Applause for Aurora: Sociobiological Considerations on Exploration and Play -- Author Index.