Since Zuckerman favors a biological/genetic basis for personality, there should be evolutionary correlates of any personality structure in other animals, particularly the closely related apes. According to this perspective, two requirements of performing a suicide are a suicidal desire and the capability to act. The Sensation-Seeking Theory was one of the topics that bothered my mind from the moment it was first introduced until its discussion was closed. During the course of his research, Zuckerman found a close relationship between sensation seeking and impulsivity. Zuckerman, M./ Neeb, M. (1980): Demographic influences in sensation seeking and expressions of sensation seeking in religion, smoking, and driving habits. If he limited his factor analysis to five factors, as Costa and McCrae had, impulsivity and sensation seeking always combined to form a factor that he called impulsive sensation seeking. Sensation seeking can be defined as “the seeking of varied, novel, complex, and intense sensations and experiences, and the willingness to take physical, social, legal, and financial risks for the sake of such experiences” (Zuckerman, 1994, p. 27). Sensation seeking is a trait defined by the need for varied, novel, and complex sensations and experiences and the willingness to take physical and social risks for the sake of such experience…The high-sensation seeker is sensitive to his or her internal sensations and chooses external stimuli that maximize them. Sensation Seeking. The Sensation Seeking Scale is a dispositional measure designed to assess individual differences in “the seeking of varied, novel, complex and intense sensations and experiences” (Zuckerman 1994, p. 27).After its appearance in the mid-1960s, the measure underwent considerable development, and the current iteration, Form 5 (SSS-V; Zuckerman et al. San Diego, CA: Elsevier. The paper allows an explicit test of a sensation-seeking perspective to help account for substance use (legal and illegal) among a sample of nearly … Sensation seeking is more predictive of outcome measures, shows stronger correlations with LH traits, subsumes contributed variance of impulsivity and demonstrates expected patterns of … Sensation seeking was postulated as being characterized by strong approach and weak inhibition (impulsivity) and arousal in approach-avoidance conflict situations. Sensation seeking is a personality trait defined by the degree to which an individual seeks novel and highly stimulating activities and experiences. The study of this trait has enjoyed a certain popular appeal, exemplified by the success of the X Games and, more recently, the popularity of televised mixed martial arts competitions. This proved to be rather curious, since impulsivity was a substrate of neuroticism, whereas “excitement seeking” was a substrate of extraversion. Zuckerman’s (1969) original theory explained sensation seeking (SS) in the context of an optimal level of reticulocortical arousal, wherein cortically underaroused high sensation seekers engaged in varied, novel, complex, and risky behavior to achieve a more optimal level of arousal. Zuckerman was the son of a mechanical engineer who came to America from Russia. If you checked 10, 11, or 12 of the items, you are probably somewhere in between on sensation seeking. Generally, sensory deprivation leads to increased anxiety, somatic discomfort, and thinking and concentration difficulties. A model for the relationships of mood, activity, social interaction, and clinical conditions to catechol… The psychology of sensation-seekers The Sensation Seeking Scaleis one of the most common psychological instrument for measuring sensation seeking. In general, youth are more likely than adults to display less impulse control and more sensation-seeking behaviors. There was no relationship between sensation‐seeking and the trait dimension of neuroticism. Zuckerman emphasizes that high sensation-seeking is a normal personality trait, despite its association with risky behavior. (Ed.). This factor is exemplified by the sports included in the X Games. He first became interested in psychology when he encountered a book about graphology. Results point toward intrinsic rewards that initially promote and subsequently reinforce substance use, and which center on the fun, thrills, and excitement of risky, illegal substance use, and the physiological high generated by drug or alcohol use. Zuckerman found it difficult to find an area of psychology that appealed to him, except for a vague interest in experimental studies that suggested an “exploratory drive,” something we might also call curiosity, in a variety of animal species. Missed the LibreFest? Yes, you can be an HSP and score high on sensation seeking … Finally, the relevance of a sensation-seeking approach to social learning theory is explored. Thus, Zuckerman examined his data, conducted a factor analysis, and offered an alternative to the Five-Factor Model. It is also important to note that it is neither good nor bad to score high or low on this scale: In this sociobiological sense, the high sensation seeker is a hunter and the low sensation seeker is a farmer. Here, the author is hanging from two ice screws about 800 or 900 feet up the alpine route Pinnacle Gulley on Mt. Sensation-seeking, also called thrill-seeking or excitement-seeking, is the tendency to pursue new and different sensations, feelings, and experiences. Have questions or comments? Indeed, the examination of optimal levels of arousal dates back to the very beginning of psychology: the experimentalist Wilhelm Wundt was studying it as early as 1893 (see Zuckerman, 1979), as were Sigmund Freud and Josef Breuer in 1895 (Freud and Breuer, 1895/2004). Sensation-Seeking and Impulsivity (Psychosocial Development) These findings speak particularly to the issue of immaturity and culpability, and are important to consider when mitigating illegal behavior in adolescents. (pg. Risk is not an essential part of the trait, as many activities associated with it are not risky. On the psychobiology of personality: Essays in honor of Marvin Zuckerman. Following this early research, Zuckerman began his own investigations. However, adolescence may be a particularly risky time, since there is a temporal gap between the onset of puberty, during which adolescents are highly thrill seeking, and the slow maturation of the cognitive-control systems that govern such behavior in adulthood (Steinberg, 2007). His work on sensation seeking, and his relationship with Eysenck, have led Zuckerman to become one of today’s leading proponents of the biological basis of personality. As Freud said, it is in the nature of scientific theory to change as new findings bring old ideas into question and suggest new interpretations of old data. The monoamine theory of sensation seeking involves three monoamin es: dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine (Zuckerman, 1995). Disinhibition: This factor covers sensation seeking that focuses on social activities, such as parties, drinking, illegal drugs, and sex. Sensation seeking is a personality trait defined by the search for experiences and feelings, that are "varied, novel, complex and intense", and by the readiness to "take physical, social, legal, and financial risks for the sake of such experiences." Likewise, (2004). Sensation seeking comes in many forms. In addition, many of the subjects experienced both auditory and visual hallucinations. Aggression-hostility, however, seems to relate more to Eysenck’s factor psychoticism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 42 : 572 –75. Table 7.2 Items from the Sensation-Seeking Scale. Boredom Susceptibility: Individuals who score high on this factor cannot tolerate any kind of repetitive experience, including routine work and boring people. In contrast to sensory deprivation, he also began to study sensation seeking, its apparent counterpart. Zuckerman created the scale with the purpose of better understanding personality traits such as neuroticism, antisocial behavior, and psychopathy. For example, individuals who are high sensation seekers are more likely to have varied sexual experiences, but they are not more likely to avoid using condoms. Rainier, Washington (bottom right), and the author’s son walking in the Great Salt Lake in Utah’s desert (top right). If you checked 9 or less of the items, you are probably not a sensation seeker. Sensation seeking scores from the SSS have been linked to many risk-taking behavioural expressions. If there are any. They may be more inclined to drive fast, but they are not less likely to use their seatbelts. As a boy, Zuckerman enjoyed playing football, but most of his sensation seeking centered on reading adventure books. Now an integral part of personality testing, including adaptations for use with children, this reissue is … After several moves, including the threat of being fired from Adelphi University due to newspaper photos of the college professor arrested and lying in the local jail (following his involvement in a protest against racism), in 1968 he joined the faculty of the University of Delaware. The Sensation Seeking Scale has been revised a number of times. 10; Zuckerman, 1979) It also incorporates social nonconformity, particularly associated with belonging to groups on the fringes of conventional society. The Role of Sensation Seeking in Political Violence: An Extension of the Significance Quest Theory Birga M. Schumpe and Jocelyn J. Bélanger New York University Abu Dhabi If you checked 13 or more of the items, you’re probably a sensation seeker. The Sensation Seeking Scale is one of the most common psychological instrument for measuring sensation seeking.It was created in 1964 by Marvin Zuckerman, at the University of Delaware. Farmers, in contrast, depend on stability of the environment (rainfall, sun, and other seasonal regularities of climate). For example, the trait plays a role in bringing people into prosocial occupations such as law enforcement, firefighting and emergency room medicine-high-stress jobs that would shut down low sensation-seekers. Zuckerman's theory . Among contemporary temperament theories the sensation seeking conceptualization belongs to those with well-established traditions. Which areas of Zuckerman’s sensation seeking trait do you find most interesting, and which subscales do you think you would score high on (they may not be the same)? Here we see the author in Mt. [LvK, tarMZ] Since he found it difficult to find continued funding for sensory deprivation research, he began to focus on sensation seeking itself. Likewise, While Zuckerman did not intend for his five factors to match those of Costa and McCrae exactly, it is easy to see a relationship between sociability and agreeableness, activity and extraversion, sensation seeking and openness, and neuroticism and neuroticism. The theory of sensation seeking was proposed to explain why some people routinely seek out thrilling experiences, even though such experiences may come with certain risks. He developed an interest in one particular trait, and he has studied that trait in great detail. The theory of sensation seeking has evolved and changed over time. He then suffered a period of depression, during which he discovered the work of Sigmund Freud. Now an integral part of personality testing, including adaptations for use with children, this reissue is a chance to see where it all began. Using factor analysis, Zuckerman and his colleagues have identified four subscales within the sensation seeking trait: Thrill and Adventure Seeking: Many people enjoy engaging in risky sports and other potentially dangerous experiences that produce unique sensations related to speed or defying gravity, such as rock climbing, BASE jumping, or drag racing. Thus, there remains a need for continued research into this field, particularly as it pertains to the evolutionary basis for personality factors, but Eysenck, Costa, McCrae, and Zuckerman have provided an excellent and coherent basis for further research. on which you think you would score either low or high, what impression do you have of people who have an opposite score on those same scales? Now an integral part of personality testing, including adaptations for use with children, this reissue is … For more information contact us at info@libretexts.org or check out our status page at https://status.libretexts.org. The LibreTexts libraries are Powered by MindTouch® and are supported by the Department of Education Open Textbook Pilot Project, the UC Davis Office of the Provost, the UC Davis Library, the California State University Affordable Learning Solutions Program, and Merlot. The SSS-V measures an individual’s optimal level of stimulation, or sensation-seeking tendencies (Zuckerman, Eysenck, & Eysenck, 1978). Log in. Zuckerman’s (1969) original theory explained sensation seeking (SS) in the context of an optimal level of reticulocortical arousal, wherein cortically underaroused high sensation seekers engaged in varied, novel, complex, and risky behavior to achieve a more optimal level of arousal. Flunking the Test Before the discussion started we were asked to answer a test known as the Sensation-Seeking Scale developed by Dr. Marvin Zuckerman, proponent of one of the highly noted modern psychological theories known as the Sensation-Seeking Theory of Personality. None of the effects of sensory deprivation seemed to correlate with any personality variables (Zuckerman et al., 1962). Originally published in 1979, this title represents a summary of 17 years of research centring around the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) and the theory from which the test was derived. Dopamine in the medial forebrain bundle and the nucleus. Anxiety would lead to sensation seeking. 384-385; Zuckerman, 1994). If there are any subscales on which you think you would score either low or high, what impression do you have of people who have an opposite score on those same scales? Within the context of sunscreen, sensation seeking again predicted vicarious-boomerang effects along with boomerang effects. Dopamine in the medial forebrain bundle and the nucleus. In Sensation Seeking and Risky Behavior, Marvin Zuckerman offers a comprehensive account of the theory and research on sensation seeking, and a detailed examination of the role of sensation seeking in a wide range of behaviors, from risky driving and extreme sports to substance use, unsafe sex, hazardous vocations, and crime and other antisocial behaviors. CrossRef Google Scholar Marvin Zuckerman represents the current approach taken by many psychologists who study traits. Originally published in 1979, this title represents a summary of 17 years of research centring around the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) and the theory from which the test was derived. Zuckerman, M. (1994). Legal. Sensation seeking is a trait defined by the need for varied, novel, and complex sensations and experiences and the willingness to take physical and social risks for the sake of such experience…The high-sensation seeker is sensitive to his or her internal sensations and chooses external stimuli that maximize them. Sensation-seeking, also called thrill-seeking or excitement-seeking, is the tendency to pursue new and different sensations, feelings, and experiences. All people seem to seek an optimal level of stimulation and/or arousal. The author is highly susceptible to boredom, so he likes to travel to interesting places. In 1975, Zuckerman took a sabbatical to work with Hans Eysenck, leading to the publication of some joint papers, and Zuckerman’s eventual contribution to Eysenck’s second festschrift (see Zuckerman, 1997). One theory that supports the relationship between sensation seeking and suicide is the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior [20, 21]. 10.8: Marvin Zuckerman and the Sensation Seeking Personality Trait, [ "article:topic", "license:ccby", "showtoc:no", "authorname:mkelland" ], https://socialsci.libretexts.org/@app/auth/2/login?returnto=https%3A%2F%2Fsocialsci.libretexts.org%2FBookshelves%2FPsychology%2FBook%253A_Personality_Theory_in_a_Cultural_Context_(Kelland)%2F10%253A_Trait_Theories_of_Personality%2F10.08%253A_Marvin_Zuckerman_and_the_Sensation_Seeking_Personality_Trait, Which areas of Zuckerman’s sensation seeking trait do you find most interesting, and which, do you think you would score high on (they may not be the same)? Theorist: Zuckerman . The concept was developed by Marvin Zuckerman of the University of Dela… It was created in 1964 by Marvin Zuckerman, at the University of Delaware. The intensive and extensive studies of Zuckerman and his coworkers over two decades have yielded a large amount of evidence in favor of his ideas and hypotheses. Plants grow slowly and require patience and tedious kinds of labor to insure their survival. Research on sensation seeking has historically been based on the hypothesis that individuals have different optimal levels of stimulation (Zuckerman 1979).Individuals high in sensation seeking are posited to be chronically underaroused, as such they seek additional stimulation to maintain or attain optimal levels of arousal through pursuit of varied and novel sensations. Unless otherwise noted, LibreTexts content is licensed by CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. And rock and ice climbers take full advantage of safety gear, they study self-rescue techniques, and they check their gear carefully before each trip. We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. Carrol, E. N., Zuckerman, M. & Vogel, W. H. (1982) A test of the optimal level of arousal theory of sensation seeking. Since then, the theory behind the trait has developed with research. Sensation seeking is a basic personality trait that has been defined as “the seeking of varied, novel, complex, and intense sensations and experiences, and the willingness to take physical, social, legal, and financial risks for the sake of such experience” (Zuckerman 1994, 27). Sensation‐seeking was positively correlated with the traits of extraversion and psychoticism as measured by the EPQ. Yes, you can be an HSP and score high on sensation seeking too. Marvin Zuckerman Originally published in 1979, this title represents a summary of 17 years of research centring around the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) and the theory from which the test was derived. Own investigations checked 13 or more of the most common psychological instrument for measuring sensation seeking scores the. 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