What inferences can be made about Odysseus based on his choice to stay and see the Cyclops?

The tale of Odysseus's encounter with the Cyclops, Polyphemus, is one of the most memorable passages in the Odyssey. It happens early in Odysseus's journey from Troy back to Ithaca, when he still has multiple ships and most of his crew. Thus far, Odysseus and his men have fled a fight with the inhabitants of Ismaros and avoided the temptation of the Land of the Lotos-Eaters, but they have not endured any terrible trials, so when they land on the island of the Cyclopes, Odysseus has no reason to assume anything bad will happen. He becomes much more careful later in his journey as a result of all his suffering.
The episode with Polyphemus is interesting because it demonstrates Odysseus's native curiosity, unfettered by the circumspection he evinces in many of his other adventures. When he lands on the island, he notes the beauty and fertility of the landscape and is surprised to see no inhabitants. He himself heads the scouting group to investigate the island—a mistake he does not make on Circe's island, where he sends a group ahead of him while he remains with his crew in case they need to flee from danger.
When the scouting group comes to Polyphemus's cave, it is evident that a giant lives there, and Odysseus's men are afraid. What frightens them, however, only piques Odysseus's interest, and against their feelings, he insists on staying to see the giant who lives in this place. There is no good reason to do this; Greek mythology does not have a tradition of friendly, hospitable giants—in fact, quite the converse—so the fears of the other men are fully justified. The results, of course, are disastrous, and Odysseus must rely on his famous intelligence to escape from the Cyclops with his life.
So why does someone so intelligent make such a rash decision? Odysseus is beloved of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, but this particular decision was highly unwise. Odysseus simply wants to satisfy his curiosity. This quality of his appears again when he must sail past the island of the Sirens, whose song lures men to their deaths. Odysseus wants to avoid the danger, but he also wants to hear the song. He takes the advice of Circe and compromises by relinquishing control of crew (allowing himself to be lashed to the ship's mast) in order to hear the Sirens' song without endangering himself or his men. Odysseus is a very intelligent man, and intelligence is often paired with curiosity. In Odysseus's case, it's also paired with the confidence that he can think his way out of any situation. This confidence, or arrogance, is what leads Odysseus to believe he can see the Cyclops, indulge his curiosity, and get away without suffering any ill consequences.