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. 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). 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 Yes, you can be an HSP and score high on sensation seeking too. Experience Seeking: This factor encompasses novel sensations and experiences, such as arousing music, art, and travel. Now an integral part of personality testing, including adaptations for use with children, this reissue is … Read more about High Sensation Seeking here. None of the effects of sensory deprivation seemed to correlate with any personality variables (Zuckerman et al., 1962). 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. He then suffered a period of depression, during which he discovered the work of Sigmund Freud. 46; Zuckerman, 1993). 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. It also incorporates social nonconformity, particularly associated with belonging to groups on the fringes of conventional society. 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. 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. Sensation Seeking Theory - Free download as Powerpoint Presentation (.ppt), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or view presentation slides online. The concept was not new when Zuckerman began to study sensory deprivation and sensation seeking. 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. 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. Zuckerman's theory . 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). However, risk may be ignored, tolerated, or minimized and may even be considered to add to the excitement of the activity. Washington in New Hampshire. Now an integral part of personality testing, including adaptations for use with children, this reissue is … 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. 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). If you checked 10, 11, or 12 of the items, you are probably somewhere in between on sensation seeking. 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). 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. 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. Plants grow slowly and require patience and tedious kinds of labor to insure their survival. Washington’s alpine garden (NH) in winter (top left) and above the clouds on Mt. The Sensation Seeking Scaleis one of the most common psychological instrument for measuring sensation seeking. This proved to be rather curious, since impulsivity was a substrate of neuroticism, whereas “excitement seeking” was a substrate of extraversion. 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. Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\) Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\). Now an integral part of personality testing, including adaptations for use with children, this reissue is a chance to see where it all began. This is particularly true for personality constructs. Among contemporary temperament theories the sensation seeking conceptualization belongs to those with well-established traditions. All people seem to seek an optimal level of stimulation and/or arousal. 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 … Following the “brainwashing” techniques used by the Chinese during the Korean War, the Canadian government pursued research on sensory deprivation, work led by D. O. Hebb. 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. Across both contexts, sensation seeking was an antecedent to vicarious-boomerang effects, which suggests that sensation seekers are likely to restore their threatened freedom through other avenues, but how remains unknown. This factor is exemplified by the sports included in the X Games. 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. During the course of his research, Zuckerman found a close relationship between sensation seeking and impulsivity. 1978), has been the standard … 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? Sensation seeking comes in many forms. According to this perspective, two requirements of performing a suicide are a suicidal desire and the capability to act. He called it sensation seeking, and in order to study it carefully he also developed the Sensation Seeking Scale. There are several aspects of sensation seeking that are … 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. Sensation‐seeking was positively correlated with the traits of extraversion and psychoticism as measured by the EPQ. 10.7: Paul Costa and Robert McCrae and the Five-Factor Model of Personality. One theory that supports the relationship between sensation seeking and suicide is the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior [20, 21]. San Diego, CA: Elsevier. His theory, which exemplifies a complex and interdisciplinary approach to the sensation seeking ten- FIGURE 3.6. Yes, you can be an HSP and score high on sensation seeking … Generally, sensory deprivation leads to increased anxiety, somatic discomfort, and thinking and concentration difficulties. 10; Zuckerman, 1979) The Sensation Seeking Scale has been revised a number of times. 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)? (Ed.). At the center of this theory lies the fact that sensation seekers are more biologically and environmentally prone to engage in deviant activities and to take illicit drugs. Thus, Zuckerman examined his data, conducted a factor analysis, and offered an alternative to the Five-Factor Model. 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. Zuckerman created the scale with the purpose of better understanding personality traits such as neuroticism, antisocial behavior, and psychopathy. (pg. 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. Aggression-hostility, however, seems to relate more to Eysenck’s factor psychoticism. Sensation-seeking, also called thrill-seeking or excitement-seeking, is the tendency to pursue new and different sensations, feelings, and experiences. The temperature was an invigorating -15 o F. Sensation seeking should not be confused with being reckless. Dopamine in the medial forebrain bundle and the nucleus. Here we see the author in Mt. (pp. The Zuckerman Sensation-Seeking Scale-V (SSS-V) consists of 40 forced-choice questions designed to assess individual differences in optimal level of stimulation. Risk is not an essential part of the trait, as many activities associated with it are not risky. Now an integral part of personality testing, including adaptations for use with children, this reissue is … 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. 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. Missed the LibreFest? The SSS-V measures an individual’s optimal level of stimulation, or sensation-seeking tendencies (Zuckerman, Eysenck, & Eysenck, 1978). Behavioral expressions and biosocial bases of sensation seeking. Zuckerman emphasizes that high sensation-seeking is a normal personality trait, despite its association with risky behavior. The contents of this website and the self-tests it contains are not meant to diagnose or exclude the diagnosis of any condition. He retired in 2002, but has remained busy enjoying life, giving talks, writing, and conducting research (Zuckerman, 1983, 1991, 2006). Legal. 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." They need a strong capacity to focus attention on the prey while remaining alert to other factors like the direction of the wind and the movements of other hunters. Now an integral part of personality testing, including adaptations for use with children, this reissue is a chance to see where it all began. Sensation seeking is usually gauged according to the Zuckerman, Eysenck, and Eysenck (1978) Sensation Seeking Scale form V (SSS-V). 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). He first became interested in psychology when he encountered a book about graphology. In general, youth are more likely than adults to display less impulse control and more sensation-seeking behaviors. Since he found it difficult to find continued funding for sensory deprivation research, he began to focus on sensation seeking itself. Zuckerman was the son of a mechanical engineer who came to America from Russia. People who are high in sensation seeking are attracted to the unknown and as a result consistently seek the new, varied, and unpredictable. (2004). Carrol, E. N., Zuckerman, M. & Vogel, W. H. (1982) A test of the optimal level of arousal theory of sensation seeking. 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. 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. New York: Cambridge University Press. 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. The theory of sensation seeking has evolved and changed over time. 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 is a personality trait defined by the degree to which an individual seeks novel and highly stimulating activities and experiences. According to Zuckerman’s (1994) theory, sensation seeking is “a trait defined by 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” (p. 27). Disinhibition: This factor covers sensation seeking that focuses on social activities, such as parties, drinking, illegal drugs, and sex. It was created in 1964 by Marvin Zuckerman, at the University of Delaware. Have questions or comments? His five factors are sociability, neuroticism-anxiety, impulsive sensation seeking, aggression-hostility, and activity (Zuckerman, 2006). The fifth version was developed in collaboration with Hans and Sybil Eysenck, and included comparisons of males to females and American students to English students (see Zuckerman, 1979, 1994). As a boy, Zuckerman enjoyed playing football, but most of his sensation seeking centered on reading adventure books. Explanation of Theory: The sensation seeking theory states that individuals seek activities and experiences that will gratify their need for sensation, and maintains that there are different levels of sensation (high or low) that can be applied. Watch the recordings here on Youtube! In contrast to sensory deprivation, he also began to study sensation seeking, its apparent counterpart. 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. Here, the author is hanging from two ice screws about 800 or 900 feet up the alpine route Pinnacle Gulley on Mt. Farmers, in contrast, depend on stability of the environment (rainfall, sun, and other seasonal regularities of climate). Unless otherwise noted, LibreTexts content is licensed by CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. 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. On the psychobiology of personality: Essays in honor of Marvin Zuckerman. Sensation-seeking, also called thrill-seeking or excitement-seeking, is the tendency to pursue new and different sensations, feelings, and experiences. Theorist: Zuckerman . In addition, many of the subjects experienced both auditory and visual hallucinations. 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. If you checked 13 or more of the items, you’re probably a sensation seeker. Hunters are positively excited by change, danger, and the variety and unpredictability of the hunt. 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