Definition

Sensation seeking is a personality trait defined by the degree to which an individual seeks novel and highly stimulating activities and experiences. People who are high in sensation seeking are attracted to the unknown and as a result consistently seek the new, varied, and unpredictable. Examples of such behaviors are varied, but sensation seekers may be attracted to extreme sports, frequent travel, diverse foods and music, new sexual partners and experiences, and challenging existing viewpoints. Often, sensation seekers are likely to be impulsive and engage in behaviors that others would find too risky. The risks may be physical (e.g., skydiving), social (e.g., risking embarrassment by dressing unusually), financial (e.g., gambling), or legal (e.g., vandalism). Because sensation seekers are easily bored, they actively avoid situations and ...