Sensation seeking and music preferences

A Musical Preference Scale was devised from factor analyses of preference ratings for established categories of music based on divisions in the recording industry in the U.S.A. The scales of the Sensation Seeking Scale form V were correlated with rated likings of each of the categories derived from the factor analysis. Total Sensation Seeking correlated positively with liking for all types of rock music and negatively with liking for bland, soundtrack music. In addition to a liking of rock music, those having high scores of the Thrill and Adventure Seeking and Experience Seeking subscales liked folk and classical music. High scorers on the Disinhibition subscale liked rock and disliked religious and soundtrack music. The results are consistent with the theory that high sensation seekers have a high optimal level of stimulation and thus tolerate and like high intensity and/or complexity in music, and stimulation in general.     

A junior sensation seeking scale (J-SSS)

Taking as a model the Sensation Seeking Scale, Form V (SSS), we constructed a 50-item Spanish experimental version of a Junior Sensation Seeking Scale (J-SSS), 10 items for each subscale: Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS), Experience Seeking (ES), Disinhibition (Dis) and Boredom Susceptibility (BS), as well as a 10-item Lie (L) scale. After administering the J-SSS to two primary and secondary pupil samples from around Barcelona, the Spanish version of the J-SSS showed acceptable 1-month test-retest and α-reliabilities and acceptable validity.     

The Relationships Between Sensation Seeking and Gender Role Orientations Among Turkish University Students

The relationships between sensation seeking and gender role orientation were examined among 325 Turkish university students. The Sensation Seeking Scale Form V (SSS-V; Zuckerman, Behavioral expressions and biosocial bases of sensation seeking. Cambridge University Press, New York, 1994) and the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI; Bem, Journal of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, 42:155–162, 1974) were used for data collection. The dimensions of the SSS-V were Thrill and Adventure Seeking, Disinhibition, Experience Seeking, and Boredom Susceptibility. The ANOVA and MANOVA revealed main effects for gender and gender role orientation. As predicted, men reported higher levels of overall sensation seeking and Disinhibition than women did. Androgynous and masculine groups reported higher levels of overall sensation seeking, Disinhibition and Experience Seeking than the feminine group did. The effect of gender role orientation on Thrill and Adventure Seeking and Boredom Susceptibility was insignificant.     

Augmenting/reducing assessed by evoked potentials and the Vando scale

College students selected for extreme evoked potential (EP) augmenting and reducing completed the Vando Reducing-Augmenting Scale (RAS). No significant correlation was found between the EP measure and the Vando RAS, although the RAS was related to sensation-seeking. Researchers are advised that the EP and RAS measures are not comparable.     

A sensation seeking scale for children: Further refinement and psychometric development

A revision of the Sensation Seeking Scale for Children (SSSC) was standardized and validated on a community sample of 660 elementary- and middle-school children and 168 clinic-referred male children. Factor analysis of the combined samples yielded three unique factors, entitled Thrill and Adventure Seeking, Drug and Alcohol Attitudes, and Social Disinhibition. Psychometric indices of reliability and validity were acceptable, but test-retest reliability was only moderate. Differences in SSSC scores according to sex, ethnic group, age, and intellectual status were similar to those found previously with the adult Sensation Seeking Scales. Consistent with documented relations between adult antisocial personality and sensation seeking, the SSSC distinguished boys with conduct disorder (CD) from clinic controls, but the SSSC scores of boys with CD did not differ from those of the community sample boys. Discussion includes suggestions as to the continued study of the assessment of sensation seeking in children.This research was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant 1-R01-MH42529-04 and is based on the doctoral research of the first author.     

Brief Sensation Seeking Scale for Chinese – Cultural adaptation and psychometric assessment

International behavioral research requires instruments that are not culturally-biased to assess sensation seeking. In this study we described a culturally adapted version of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale for Chinese (BSSS-C) and its psychometric characteristics. The adapted scale was assessed using an adult sample (n = 238) with diverse educational and residential backgrounds. The BSSS-C (Cronbach alpha = 0.90) was correlated with the original Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (r = 0.85, p < 0.01) and fitted the four-factor model well (CFI = 0.98, SRMR = 0.03). The scale scores significantly predicted intention to and actual engagement in a number of health risk behaviors, including alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and sexual risk behaviors. In conclusion, the BSSS-C has adequate reliability and validity, supporting its utility in China and potential in other developing countries.     

Australian factorial confirmation of Vando's Reducer—Augmenter Scale

Vando's (1970) 54-Item Reducer—Augmenter Scale (RAS) was completed by 549 Australian university students. Factor analysis of scores yielded three dimensions analogous to Canadian results: auditory modality, kinesthetic activity, and sensation seeking. Refactoring 18 RAS items produced a test explaining almost twice as much variance as the original scale. Factor scores of both tests at best duplicated the validity of total scores against constructs reflecting stimulus need. Results justify the use of Vando's total RAS in Australia.     

The perception of sensation seeking in familiar and unfamiliar others

In Study I, 20 heterosexual couples filled out the Sensation Seeking Scale (Form V) for themselves and as they thought their partner would. The mean difference between the predicted score for one's partner and the partner's actual scale was -2.40 for the males and -1.10 for the females; neither of which significantly differed from 0. The predicted scores and actual scores were highly correlated (r = 0.58 for males and r = 0.66 for females). The results support the idea that people are accurate in their estimations of sensation seeking in familiar others.In study II, the ability to evaluate sensation seeking in unfamiliar others was investigated. Segments from four commercial movies involving six different characters were shown to subjects. After viewing one of these segments subjects filled out a sensation seeking scale as they thought the movie character would. A high level of inter-observer agreement was observed for these ratings. Moreover, the ratings for each of the six characters were congruent with the experimenters' prior judgements of each character's level of sensation seeking. These data support the hypothesis that rapid and accurate judgements of the sensation seeking trait in unfamiliar others are possible.     

Sensation seeking, augmenting-reducing, and absolute auditory threshold: a strength-of-the-nervous-system perspective

The following measures were obtained from 42 student volunteers: the General and the Disinhibition subscales of the Sensation Seeking Scale (Form IV), the Reducer-Augmenter Scale, and the Absolute Auditory Threshold. General sensation seeking correlated significantly with the Reducer-Augmenter Scale, r(40) = .59, p less than .001, and the Absolute Auditory Threshold, r(40) = .45, p less than .005. Both results proved general across sex. These findings, that high-sensation seekers tend to be reducers and to lack sensitivity to weak stimulation, were interpreted as supporting strength-of-the-nervous-system theory more than the formulation of Zuckerman and his associates.     

Further evidence for the validity of the Need Inventory of Sensation Seeking

The Need Inventory of Sensation Seeking (NISS) by Roth and Hammelstein (2012) conceptualizes sensation seeking as a motivational trait, a need for stimulation that can provoke different behaviors. Extending the area of application to the field of sexuality, the results of an online survey with a convenience sample (N = 368) provided evidence that the NISS outperforms traditional measures of sensation seeking. In a series of hierarchical regression analyses, the NISS added incremental variance in predicting the number of sexual partners and the frequency of extreme sexual behaviors and fantasies. No relationship between the NISS and pornography use was found. Moreover, the NISS subscale Need for Stimulation performed better than the subscale Avoidance of Rest. Overall, the study supported the assumption that the NISS is a valid and reliable instrument in the area of sexuality.     

Relation of transliminality and sensation seeking

The Revised Transliminality Scale and Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale (Form V) were administered to 83 psychology undergraduates. Weak positive correlations suggested that participants scoring high on the Transliminality Scale tended to be more experience seeking and, overall, more inclined to score sensation seeking.     

Measurement of test anxiety among selected black adolescents: Appropriateness of four anxiety scales

In an effort to determine the appropriateness of three already available anxiety measures and one newly developed measure for use with low-achieving minority- group adolescents, this study explored the reliability and validity for four self- report anxiety scales. The Test Anxiety Scale for Children (TASC), the Alpert-Haber Achievement Anxiety Scale for Children (AASC), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), and a newly developed Reading Anxiety Scale (RAS), in which was embedded the Lie Scale for Children (LSC), were administered to 60 seventh- grade black students. Internal consistency reliability estimates are moderate to moderately high. Significant intercorrelations (p<.05) were found among the scales except for the A-State (state anxiety) subscale of the STAIC, which correlated significantly only with the RAS. No scale was found to be redundant with any other scale. The scales differentiated anxiety levels but did not operate differentially on the basis of gender. Conclusions are drawn regarding the appropriateness of using these scales with some minority-group adolescents.     

Disinhibitory sensation seeking,personality and gonadal hormones

The study compared normal males who scored at the extremes of Disinhibition (a subscale of the Sensation Seeking Scale) on gonadal hormones. High disinhibitors were higher than lows on testosterone, estradiol and estrone, but not on progesterone. A broader range of personality traits, attitudes and experience was factor analyzed and correlated with the hormone measurements. Two large factors were found: (1) stable extraversion vs neurotic introversion; (2) social deviancy vs social conformity. Testosterone loaded positively on the stable extraversion factor and estradiol loaded on the social deviancy factor. Measures of sensation seeking, impulsivity and heterosexual experience tended to correlate positively with both testosterone and estradiol, and persons low on both of these hormones were characterized by a high degree of self control and social conformity.     

Sensation seeking among high- and low-risk sports participants

Investigated were the sensation seeking tendencies of a diverse sample of 166 athletes. The main aim of the study was to assess empirical support for Zuckermans (1994)Impulsive-Sensation-Seeking (ImpSS) theory and to replicate and extend previous research findings in this area using high- and low-risk sport participants. The Sensation Seeking Scale-V (Zuckerman et al., 1978) and the Impulsiveness Scale of the Impulsiveness-Venturesome-Empathy Scale (Eysenck and Eysenck, 1978), were administered to both male and female athletes currently engaged in one of eight sport disciplines: Hang-gliding, mountaineering, sky-diving, automobile racing, swimming, marathon running, aerobics or golf. Results provided support for the main thrust of Zuckermans ImpSS theory (a) that sensation seeking is integrated within a broader trait called Impulsive-Sensation Seeking; and (b) that total sensation seeking differentiated between high- and low-risk sport participants. On the other hand, these participants did not differ on the impulsiveness dimension. These and other findings are integrated with respect to Zuckermans (1994)Impulsive-Sensation Seeking model. Limitations of the present study and suggestions for future research are also discussed.     

Experience and desire: A new format for Sensation Seeking Scales

A new form (VI) of the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) was developed which separates reports of past experiences from desired or intended future experiences on both Disinhibition (Dis) and Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS) factors. Factor analyses were used to select items for the scales. High internal reliabilities were found for the Experience-Dis, Intention-TAS, and Intention-Dis scales, but only moderate reliability was found for the Experience-TAS scale. Retest reliabilities were high for all scales. The Experience-TAS and -Dis scales were highly correlated for males but not for females. The Experience- and Intention-TAS scales were moderately correlated, and the Experience- and Intention-Dis scales were highly correlated for both sexes. Both the TAS and the Dis scales on form V were highly correlated with the corresponding Intention scales on form VI. Uses for the new SS scales in individual assessment are suggested.A copy of SSS form VI may be obtained from the author.     

Comparing personality constructs of risk-taking behavior

Canadian subjects (N = 120) completed four psychological scales. Three of the scales were directly related to risk-taking behavior. These were the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS V; Zuckerman, 1979), the Tension Risk Adventure Inventory (TRAI; Keinan et al., 1984) and the Telic Dominance Scale (TDS; Murgatroyd et al., 1978). In addition, subjects completed the Desire for Control Scale (DCS; Burger and Cooper, 1979) to investigate the role of desire for control in risk-taking. The results indicated (1) significant differences between age and sensation seeking (2) a four-factor structure for the TRAI following factor analysis with this Canadian sample (3) numerous intra- and inter-scale relationships obtained from correlation analyses of and (4) four major dimensions arising from PCA of the four inventory scales.     

A comparison of impulsivity and sensation seeking in pathological gamblers and skydivers

The aim of this study was to compare pathological gamblers and skydivers in relation to measures of impulsivity and sensation seeking. The Eysenck Impulsivity Scale - Narrow Impulsiveness Subscale and the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking were administered to pathological gamblers (n = 29), skydivers (n = 93), and a control group (n = 43). A two-way multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to explore differences in impulsivity and sensation seeking between the groups and possible group by gender and group by age interaction effects. The significant effects were further investigated using follow-up univariate analysis of variance. The results showed significant main effects of Group, Gender and Age, and a significant Group by Gender interaction effect. The results showed no statistically significant differences in impulsivity between pathological gamblers and skydivers; however, both groups scored higher than the controls. The skydivers scored higher compared to the pathological gamblers and controls on both sensation seeking subscales. Pathological gamblers scored higher than the controls on the subscale Need for Stimulus Intensity, although lower than the controls on the subscale Need for Novelty. We conclude that skydivers and pathological gamblers do not seem to differ in terms of impulsivity, but that the two groups differ in terms of sensation seeking. Skydivers are hence characterized by more sensation seeking compared to pathological gamblers. Skydiving, as opposed to pathological gambling, is not considered a psychiatric disorder, and skydiving may represent a more non-pathological way to fulfill the need for stimulus intensity.     

An Assessment of the Psychometric Properties of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale for Children

Sensation seeking is a trait that predicts a wide range of real-life risk behavior, such as substance abuse and gambling problems. Sensation seeking is often assessed with the Sensation Seeking Scale. Several adaptations of this questionnaire have been made, for example, to abbreviate it and to make it suitable for children. However, studies on sensation seeking in children are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate sensation seeking in children (N = 158, M age = 11.4 years). The Brief Sensation Seeking Scale for Children (BSSS–C) was translated into Dutch and psychometric properties were examined. Internal consistency was high, and the factor structure showed close resemblance with previous research. Test–retest and split-half reliabilities were acceptable, as was convergent validity with self-reported symptoms of psychopathology (attention problems and aggressive behavior). Construct validity was adequate, with more sensation seeking in boys than in girls. No effects of age were found. To sum up, sensation seeking can be measured in children in a valid and reliable way. The correlation of sensation seeking with high-risk behaviors emphasizes the importance of assessment early in development.     

Stimulated salivation: Correlations with personality and time of day effects

Several studies which report a negative correlation between extraversion and salivation stimulated by lemon juice or synthetic equivalents are reviewed. We report a replication of this finding together with a corroboration of the impression that the correlation holds in the morning (r = -0.74, P < 0.01) but not in the afternoon. We find that stimulated salivation also correlates with psychoticism (r = -0.58, P < 0.05) and sensation seeking (r = -0.58, P < 0.05). Extraversion correlated significantly with sensation seeking in the afternoon group and with psychoticism in the morning group. The salivation results suggest that extraversion and sensation seeking (and perhaps also psychoticism) share a physiological basis. The time of day effects reported for the personality variable correlations are novel but require further study in a larger population.     

Test–retest reliability of the Brunel Lifestyle Physical Activity Questionnaire

ObjectivesTo establish the test–retest reliability of planned physical activity (PPA) and unplanned physical activity (UPA) components of the Brunel Lifestyle Physical Activity Questionnaire (BLPAQ). To provide evidence of the BLPAQ's stability using the proportion of agreement (PoA) method over a 5-week period.DesignTest–retest over a 5-week period using three diverse samples of adults.MethodsThe 277 participants were subdivided into three adult samples: gymnasium users (n = 80), undergraduate students (n = 111), and university staff members (n = 86). They were asked to complete the test–retest measure in their places of exercise, study, or work respectively.ResultsCorrelation coefficients between test–retest administrations were calculated for each participant group and intraclass correlations were calculated for each item. Pearson's product-moment correlations ranged from r = 0.95 to r = 0.96 for the PPA subscale and r = 0.93 to r = 0.98 for the UPA subscale. Intraclass correlations ranged from R = 0.52 to R = 0.99 for PPA and R = 0.87 to R = 0.99 for UPA. Fisher's z tests indicated that the test–retest correlation coefficients for the BLPAQ subscales were, on the whole, significantly stronger than those of older, comparable subscales from lifestyle physical activity questionnaires. The PoA analysis for each item revealed that the test–retest administrations were in high agreement (>95%).ConclusionsOverall, the PPA and UPA factors of the BLPAQ demonstrated high reliability and stability. The present study also illustrates the utility of PoA analysis in establishing the stability of physical activity measures.