Sensation Seeking Kristen Cushman Overview n Sensation seeking

+ Sensation Seeking Kristen Cushman

+ Overview n Sensation seeking n Description n Relation n Big & Measurement to other personality characteristics 5 & Eysenck’s PEN n Occupations, n Factors habits, hobbies related to SS that affect SS n Problems with measures of SS scales

+ Sensation Seeking n Definition coined by Zuckerman n Multifaceted n Seeking personality trait varied, novel, complex & intense sensations/experiences n Willing to take physical, social, legal & financial risks for sake of such experience

+ Measuring Sensation Seeking n Self-report n Urgency, questionnaires Premeditation, Perseverance, & Sensation Seeking (UPPS) n Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) n Eysenck Impulsiveness Scale (EIS) n Behavioral Constraint factor of Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire

+ Measuring Sensation Seeking n Self-report n questionnaires Zuckerman’s Sensation Seeking Scales (SSS) n 14 different forms n Many language translations n SSS-V n Four subscales n Thrill & Adventure Seeking (TAS) n Experience Seeking (ES) n Disinhibition (DIS) n Boredom Susceptibility (BS)

+ Measuring Sensation Seeking n Self-report n questionnaires Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire n Sociability n Neuroticism-Anxiety n Impulsive Sensation Seeking n Aggression Hostility n Activity

+ n Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire I like to have new and exciting experiences and sensations even if they are a little frightening n I like doing things just for the thrill of it n I enjoy getting into new situations where you can’t predict how things will turn out n I would like to take off on a trip with no preplanned or definite routes or timetables n I tend to begin a new job without much advance planning on how I will do it

+ Sensation Seeking Model Genetic Behaviors Biological Attitudes Social Preferences Psychophysiological

+ Sensation Seeking Behaviors n Pursuing n Involve that elicit increased amounts of stimulation stimulating jobs, using drugs, driving recklessly seeking out arousal n Associated n Risk risk taking, however, is not primary motive in behavior

+ Behavior, Activities & Attitudes n Occupational choice n Recreation n Lifestyle choices n Sports n Social Interactions

+ Relation to Big 5 n Positive n SSS-V correlations & Openness to Experience (r =. 45) of NEO-PI-R n Overall n Negative & each subscale (especially ES) correlations n SSS-V Disinhibition & Agreeableness (r = -. 40) n SSS-V Boredom Susceptibility & Agreeableness (r = -. 048)

+ Relation to Eysenck’s PEN n Psychoticism scale of EPQ relates to experience -seeking scores of SSS-V n Extraversion scale of EPQ relates to Thrill & Adventure Seeking scores of SSS-V

+ ‘Bad’ & ‘Good’ Sensation Seeking n Impulsive, n unsocalized sensation seeking (Imp. USS) Disinhibition, Experience Seeking & Boredom Susceptibility of SSS-V & Psychoticism of EPQ n Those high on these scales tend to be nonconforming, nonconventional & lack planning skills n Less sensitivity to risk n Non-impulsive, n socialized sensation seeking Thrill & Adventure Seeking of SSS-V

+ Stimulating Occupational Choices n Jobs n that are adventurous & non-conventional Serve as source of arousal n Sensation n seeking and Strong Vocational Interest Blank High SS correlates with jobs involving n Novel situations n Stimulating surroundings n Unstructured tasks n Flexibility

+ Stimulating Occupational Choices n Gender n differences High SS males: scientific or social service careers n Psychologist n Psychiatrist n Social worker n Females: negative relationship between SS scores & traditional occupations (housewife, teacher)

+ Stimulating Occupational Choices n High Thrill & Adventure Seeking & Dishibition scores n Firefighters n Mountain n Race & mine rescue squads car drivers n Mountain climbers n Parachutists

+ Stimulating Occupational Choices n New n sensations & experience, less risk Journalist, movie double, surgeon n Elevated scores on SSS-V overall, Thrill & Adventure Seeking & Boredom susceptibility n High schoolers with high TAS scores rated jobs with risk as more desirable n Aircraft pilot, policeman, army officer

+ Habits Related to Sensation Seeking n High sensation seeking related to n Fighting n Drug use n Drunk driving n Seatbelt usage

+ Habits Related to Sensation Seeking n Lack of external stimulation n Boredom with surroundings n May lead to substance abuse n Sensation n seeking and alcohol usage High scores on Disinhibition & Experience Seeking related to alcohol abuse n Relationship between behavioral disinhibition, preference for sensation seeking & drinking habits

+ Habits Related to Sensation Seeking n Peer n sensation seeking and individual drug usage Mutual attraction to various experiences n Risky n sexual situations High sensation seekers have more sexual partners, permissive sexual attitudes & are less likely to use protection

+ Hobbies: Sports & Recreation n Sensation n Listening seekers & socially acceptable means to arousing music n Volunteering for experiments n Traveling n Enjoying n Rock climbing n Scuba n Hang unusual or unpleasant art forms diving gliding

+ Biology of Sensation Seeking n Interactions n Dopamine between neurotransmitter systems n Reward-driven n Serotonergic n Mood, learning, pleasure/euphoria systems memory, sleep, cognition n Gonadal n Sexual hormones maturation

+ Biology of Sensation Seeking n Rat models n Exploratory n High behavior: novelty seeking responders (HR): high locomotor reactivity n More self-administration of amphetamines than low responders n Increased levels of catecholamine after stressor

+ Biology of Sensation Seeking n Research with human participants n Relationship between Disinhibition & Experience Seeking scores of SSS-V and dopamine/serotonergic systems n High SS: lower cortisol responses n High SS: high stress resistance, higher threshold of sensitivity to aversive stimulation, lower hypersensitivity & lower irritability

+ Biology of Sensation Seeking n Association between gonadal hormones & scores on SSS n Males: Disinhibition scores related to androgen & estrogen levels n Females: Disinhibition scores related to follicular & luteal estrogens

+ Reliability of SSS-V (Deditius-Island & Caruso, 2002) n Reliability n Analysis generalization study of typical reliability scores & factors associated with variability n Subscale n Mean with lowest reliability: Boredom Susceptibility of. 62 & Median of. 61 n Inadequate for all applications by any criterion

+ Reliability of SSS-V (Deditius-Island & Caruso, 2002) n Older Ps tend to demonstrate scores with higher reliability for n ES, BS & overall n Scores for SSS-V scales are less reliable than would be desired n Many studies have omitted reliability coefficients for score means

+ Reliability of SSS-V (Deditius-Island & Caruso, 2002) n Improvements n Researchers are needed seem to just assume that scores will be reliable because that is what has been indicated in previous samples (reliability induction problem)

+ Important Implications n Reduce negative health consequences n Provide non-risky options that still provide adequate levels of arousal n Intervention programs