Subscales Of Sensation Seeking Scale Research Articles

Testosterone exposure, dopaminergic reward, and sensation-seeking in young men

To test the relationship between androgen exposure, dopaminergic reward and sensation-seeking, we compared variation in salivary testosterone (T), 2D:4D digit ratio, facial masculinity, Zuckerman's sensation-seeking scale (SSS) and the D4 dopamine receptor ( DRD4) genes from 98 young men, between the ages of 18 and 23 years. In univariate analyses, both salivary T and facial masculinity were significantly correlated with the SSS boredom susceptibility subscale, while the presence of the 7-repeat allele (7R+) in the dopamine receptor D4 gene was associated with the SSS thrill and adventure-seeking and overall sensation-seeking. Neither left nor right 2D:4D digit ratio was associated with any sensation-seeking scale. In multivariate models, salivary T and facial masculinity were significant predictors of SSS boredom susceptibility, while 7R+ was a significant predictor of SSS thrill and adventure-seeking. For overall SSS, both 7R+ and salivary T were significant predictors. There was no significant interaction of 7R+ and androgen exposure for SSS or any of the SSS subscales. These results add to earlier reports of an association between T and sensation-seeking. In addition, our results also indicate that genetic variation in DRD4 is independently associated with SSS sensation-seeking.

The nature and measurement of sensory curiosity

To determine if sensory curiosity (SC) could be identified as a meaningful psychological construct, a pool of SC items was administered to 552 undergraduate students (402 women, 150 men), along with measures of perceptual and epistemic curiosity. Participants also responded to the trait anxiety, anger, and curiosity scales of the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), and subscales of the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS). Factor analyses of the SC items identified one strong factor, from which 10 items were selected to form a SC scale. Positive correlations of the SC scale with the other curiosity scales that were stronger than the correlations of the SSS subscales with these measures, provided evidence of convergent and discriminant validity for the SC scale. Divergent validity was evidenced by essentially zero correlations of the SC scale with the STPI anxiety, anger and depression measures.

Sensational interests and sensation seeking in mentally disordered offenders

Abstract Violent and sensational interests are reported in the background history of some mentally disordered offenders. As sensation-seeking accounts for the drive for intellectual and physical excitement, it was thought that this trait would also underlie an interest in sensational material. We examined the differences in sensational interests and SS between patients detained under the Mental Health Act (1983) classifications of psychopathic disorder (PD) and mental illness (MI), the degree to which sensational interests related to sensation-seeking, and the relationship between these factors and self-reported personality disorders. The Sensational Interests Questionnaire (SIQ), Zuckerman’s Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS), the Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM) and the MCMI-II were given to 42 patients (32 MI, 10 PD). There were no significant differences between the MI and PD groups for scores on the SIQ or the SSS. The SIQ was not related to scores on the SPM. As predicted, the SIQ’s subscales of militarism and the violent-occult were significantly and positively associated with sensation-seeking, especially the SSS subscales of Disinhibition and Thrill and Adventure Seeking. Sensation-seeking mediated the relationship between sensational interests and measures of personality disorder.

Sensation seeking and novelty seeking. Are they the same?

Responses to Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) and Cloninger's Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (which consists of novelty seeking, harm avoidance, and reward-dependence dimensions) have been linked to a variety of behavioral and psychiatric variables. The relationship of these two measures to one another has not been examined previously and, in the present study, is evaluated in a group of men briefly hospitalized for treatment of alcohol and chemical dependence. Total sensation seeking scale scores were significantly correlated (Pearson r) with total novelty seeking scale scores. Set correlation analysis revealed significant overall relationships between sensation seeking and both high novelty seeking and low harm avoidance. Most of these overall relationships were attributable to six subscales, although broad relationships were observed between the SSS disinhibition and novelty seeking subscales, and between a harm avoidance subscale and all SSS subscales. Neither statistical approach identified an association between reward dependence and sensation seeking.

Visual evoked potential stimulus intensity modulation and sensation seeking in thrill-seekers

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to stimuli of four intensities of 4, 18, 75, and 320 footcandles (ft-c) were recorded and Zuckerman's sensation seeking scale (SSS) was administered to 59 thrill-seekers and 59 non-thrill-seeker control subjects. The thrill-seekers were a heterogeneous group composed of skydivers, hang-gliders, rock climbers, ultralight flyers, scuba divers, motorcycle racers, and ocean kayakers. Amplitude/intensity function slopes were computed P1N1 and N1P2 components on lead Cz. Thrill-seekers had significantly lower slope on N1P2 but were not significantly different from controls on P1N1. The only significant correlation between VEP and SSS was for the disinhibition scale (Dis) on P1N1 (0.29). Thrill-seekers were significantly higher than controls on all of the SSS subscales. Thrill-seekers' highest mean score was reported on the thrill and adventure seeking scale (TAS). TAS also discriminated the best between the groups. Female thrill-seekers less than 30 years old had mean scores higher than their male counterparts on all SSS scales except Dis.

Sensation seeking and food preferences

The relationships between sensation seeking and preferences for various foods were studied. A Japanese version of the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) and food preference questionnaire were administered to a total of 105 students (66 males and 39 females). Preference ratings of 70 foods were factor analyzed and 7 factors concerning food preference patterns were extracted. Preference ratings for food items with high loadings on these 7 factors were correlated with subjects' scores on SSS. Significant and positive correlations were found between total scores of SSS and the preference ratings for spicy foods (loading on factor 1), meats (loading on factor 4), and alcoholic beverages (loading on factor 6). Among subscales of SSS, following subscores correlated significantly and positively with preference for several food groups: (1) ES, TAS and spicy foods. (2) TAS and meats, ES and a few items of meats. (3) TAS, BS and alcoholic beverages. But, Dis scale did not correlate with any food groups. Common features and differences between the results of present research and previous ones connected in the U.S.A. were discussed.

Sensation seeking and antisocial behaviour in a student sample

In order to test the relationship between sensation seeking, as measured by the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) Form V, and antisocial behaviour, evaluated by a Self-reported Delinquency (SRD) scale, a correlational study in a student sample was carried out. The results obtained show, as predicted, a positive relationship between either the SSS Total score or its subscales, (Experience Seeking and Disinhibition) with the SRD. The other SSS subscales, to a lesser extent, also show a similar pattern of correlation.