Sensation seeking encompasses the drive for varied, novel & complex experiences, and a willingness to take risks, (although should not be confused with being reckless). Canadian psychologist Marvin Zuckerman pioneered modern sensation seeking research in the late twentieth century. He developed the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS).
“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.”
Marvin Zuckerman
Zuckerman identified 4 distinct components:
- seeking varied, novel and complex experiences
- thrill and adventure seeking
- disinhibition and impulsivity
- boredom susceptibility
Are you a High Sensation Seeker?