Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'High Sensation Seeking'

Previous research has shown a large genetic influence over personality traits, especially sensation seeking. One gene thought to influence this behavioural trait is the dopamine-4-receptor gene (DRD4), in which variants have been associated with sensation seeking and novelty seeking in some, but not all studies. The inconsistencies between studies may be due to heterogeneity in both the behaviours and the populations being assessed. Some studies included only males and few studies have a priori analyzed males and females separately. SS has been associated with high-risk sports, including skiing; however, this is the first study to address the possibility that genetics may play a role in individuals’ inclination towards SS in sport. Using the Contextual Sensation Seeking Questionnaire for Skiing (CSSQ-S), developed and validated for this study, and the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ), levels of SS in males and females were analyzed in association with the alleles of a polymorphism in the dopamine-4-receptor, -521 C/T (a C or a T at position -521). Behavioural analysis of skiers (N = 200) revealed a significant correlation (r²= .506, p < .001) between skier behaviour (CSSQ-S) and skier personality score (ZKPQ) for sensation seeking. Genotype analysis (N = 74) revealed allele frequencies of .58 C and .42 T and an over-representation of the C allele was found in the population of skiers compared with a general Caucasian population (p < .01). In females, a significant association was found between the homozygous C/C genotype and high levels of contextual skiing SS behaviour (N = 36, p = .006, η² = .2), along with a non-significant trend between ZKPQ impulsive SS scores and the alleles of -521 C/T (p = .086). No association, however, was found in males (N=38, p ZKPQ = .473, p CSSQ-S = .345). This study supports the hypothesis that alleles of the DRD4 -521 C/T polymorphism are associated with context-specific SS behaviours, however only in females. Social pressures may differentially influence male and female sensation-seeking behaviour which may explain the lack of association in males, though this hypothesis requires further investigation.

The purpose of the present study is to examine the role of several demographic and personality characteristics of Turkish adolescent risk takers. More specifically, how well gender, age, sensation-seeking, self-esteem, and locus of control predict adolescent risk-taking behavior was examined in this study. Participants were between the ages of 15-19, from two Anatolian high schools and a general lycee in Ankara. They were given four different instruments to fill out -Modified Risk Involvement and Perception Scale (M-RIPS), Arnett Inventory of Sensation-Seeking (AISS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Rotter Internal-External Locus of Control Scale (IELOC)- and a demographic data form which was developed by the researcher (n = 867). Involvement subscale of the Risk Involvement and Perception Scale was adapted to Turkish culture by the researcher. A standard multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate how well sensation-seeking, self-esteem, locus of control, age, and gender predicted the risk-taking behaviors of adolescents. Results of the study indicated that except self-esteem, all other variables were significantly related to Turkish adolescent risk-taking behaviors. Gender and sensation-seeking were the most predictor variables in explaining adolescent risk-taking. The results also indicated that older male adolescent high sensation seekers who have external locus of control were more likely to engage in various risk-taking behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications, and recommendations for future research were presented.

Sensation seeking involves a desire to seek out thrilling experiences and a willingness to take risks in exchange for rewards. Sensation seekers are drawn to risky activities and high-risk sports represent potentially positive outlets for such individuals. Sensation seeking is moderately heritable and variants in genes involved in dopaminergic transmission have been associated with sensation-seeking phenotypes, although no studies have investigated personality and genetic variants in high-risk sport practitioners. This interdisciplinary dissertation explores personality (general sensation seeking and contextual sensation seeking in sport) and genetic variables (polymorphisms in monoamine pathway genes) in proficient high-risk sport practitioners. In the first series of projects two independent cohorts (n = 220, n = 668) of skiers/snowboarders (risky, yet popular sports) completed questionnaires and provided DNA samples. Data derived from questionnaires were used to evaluate the reliability and predictive validity of a new sensation-seeking tool for downhill sports that was developed as part of this study. The questionnaire showed strong psychometric properties and significantly predicted injury (β = .358, p < .001) in skiers and was used to define phenotypes in subsequent genetic studies. Using designs that employed independent replications, the newly defined phenotype was significantly associated (p < .001) with a functional variant (-521C/T) in the dopamine-4-receptor gene (DRD4), and an association between general sensation seeking and a variant (rs167771, intronic G/A) in the dopamine-3-receptor gene (DRD3) was also observed in the ski cohorts (p = .004). Personality and genetic variables were then compared using a quasi case-control design between practitioners of very high-risk (e.g., paragliding, ski-mountaineering, n = 141) and low-risk sports (e.g., running, n =132). The high-risk group scored higher than low-risk athletes on sensation seeking (p < .05), but not impulsivity, a trait commonly associated with deviant risk-taking and there were marginal associations between sport group and genetic variants in the stathmin (p = .004) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (p = .03) genes, but the associations did not survive correction for multiple testing. The finding that risk-taking through sport may be, in part, predicted by genetic background provides a novel insight into the potential antecedents of performance.

碩士<br>國立高雄師範大學<br>教育學系<br>93<br>A study on Invulnerability, Sensation Seeking and Delinquency of Junior High School Students. The purpose of this study intended to explore the relationships among the invulnerability, Sensation Seeking and Delinquency of Junior High School Students. The main purposes of the study were: (1) To understand the invulnerability of the Junior High School Students in the current situation. (2) To understand the Sensation Seeking of the Junior High School Students in the current situation. (3) To understand the Delinquency of the Junior High School Students in the current situation. (4) To investigate the differences among the Invulnerability, Sensation Seeking, and Delinquency from different backgrounds of junior high school students. (5) To explore the relationships among Junior High School Students’ Invulnerability, Sensation Seeking and Delinquency. (6) To explore the relationship between the Sensation Seeking and Delinquency. (7) To explore the relationship between the Invulnerability and Delinquency. (8) To predict Junior High School Students’ Delinquency with Invulnerability and Sensation Seeking. The study applied Questionnaire Methods and there were 965 students randomly sampled from Junior High School Students in the south of Taiwan. The instruments used in the study were Inventories of Basic Information Investigation, Invulnerability Scale, Sensation Seeking Scale, and Delinquency Scale. The data obtained in the study were analyzed by T-Test, One-Way ANOVA, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, and Stepwise Multiple Regression. The conclusion of the study was in the following: (1) The boys have higher potentialities in invulnerability, inner delinquency and social delinquency compared with those of girls’. (2) The ninth graders have more antisocial behaviors and delinquency. (3) The youngest child in the family has more possibilities in delinquency. (4) The single-parent students have lower tolerance and higher transgression. (5) The laissez-faire parenting style has obvious impact on Junior High School Students. (6) The students in high socio-economic status have more transgression. (7) The invulnerability and sensation seeking will affect the delinquency. (8) The optimum predicable variable of the delinquency is antisocial behavior. Based on the conclusion from the study, there are some suggestions for the public, schools and further researchers. (1)To decrease the gender stereotypes in men’s inequality. (2) To provide facilities for recreation to release teenagers’ pressure. (3) To offer multiple social activities to enhance the interrelationship. (4) To decrease the academic pressure for the ninth graders. (5) To increase the frustration tolerance of the youngest child. (6) To tighten the connection between single-parent family and social bonds. (7) To advocate the flexibility of the parenting style. (8) To increase the communication between those high socio-economic status students with their parents. Key words: Adolescence, Adolescent Egocentrism, Invulnerability, Sensation Seeking, Delinquency.

M.A.<br>This study is an attempt at providing substantiated research data on sensation seeking, measured using the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS), and its role in sensory, perceptual and cognitive functioning. The areas of functioning investigated included sensory tolerance levels, preference for perceptual complexity, speed of perpetual closure, verbal ability versus spatial ability and creativity ...

碩士<br>國立彰化師範大學<br>教育研究所<br>93<br>The main purposes of this study were to explore the relationships among variables of impulsiveness, sensation seeking, anger emotion, and aggressive behaviors. This study examined the effects of difference background variables on the main variables. Moreover, this study explored impulsiveness, sensation seeking to predict anger emotion and aggression behaviors of junior high school students. Finally, this study tried to develop the structural equation model of aggressive behaviors and the other relevant variables. Subjects of 715 junior high school students were evaluated by the instruments, including Impulsiveness Scale, Sensation Seeking Scale, Anger Emotion Scale, and Aggressive Behavior Scale. The statistical methods used to analyze the data were t-test, One-way ANOVA, Pearson Product-moment Correlation, Canonical Correlation, Multiple Regression, Discriminate Analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling. The main findings were as follows: 1.The male students had higher attentional impulsiveness; the female students had higher adventure seeking and disinhibition; the male students were tend to express anger out and used physical aggression. 2.The 3th graders had higher motor impulsiveness, anger out, anger state, and indirect aggression than the 1th graders. However, the 3th graders had higher anger reaction than the 1th and 2th graders. 3.There were significant canonical correlations between the two set variables of impulsiveness and sensation seeking. Anger state and anger expression had significantly canonical correlations. 4.Impulsiveness and sensation seeking could predict anger emotion. Motor impulsiveness, attentional impulsiveness, and cognition instability positively predicted anger emotion, but disinhibition negatively predicted anger emotion. 5.Impulsiveness, sensation seeking, and anger emotion could predict aggression behaviors. Motor impulsiveness, attentional impulsiveness, cognition instability, anger out, anger state, anger in and anger reaction positively predicted aggressive behaviors, but boredom susceptibility, disinhibition, and anger control negatively predicted. 6.Impulsiveness, sensation seeking, and anger emotion could significantly distinguish three groups of aggressive behaviors. 7.The theoretical model constructed in the study could explain the relationship among the main variables. Finally, some suggestions for schools, teachers, parents, and further study were made according to the findings.

碩士<br>國立花蓮教育大學<br>國民教育研究所<br>95<br>The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships among creative life experiences, sensation seeking and self-actualization of senior high school students. The study adopted a method of questionnaire survey. The students out of the public senior high schools in Taiwan East areas（Ilan area, Hualien area, and Taitung area） were targeted as the population. 398 effective questionnaires were analyzed as research data. Instruments used in this study were “Basic Information Inventory”, “Self-Actualization Scale”, “Creative Life Experience Scare” and “Sensation Seeking Scale”. The information gathered was described, analyzed, and tested by statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, factor analysis, t-test of one dependent sample, canonical correlation and multiple stepwise regressions. Results of the study are concluded as follows: a) creative life experience The creative life experiences of senior high school students in there area of Taiwan（Ilan area, Hualien area, and Taitung area）was not in high condition. Also, senior high school students with different variables such as “gender” and “associate of degree（Arts/Science）” made significant differences to the creative life experiences. b) sensation seeking The sensation seeking of senior high school students in there area of Taiwan（Ilan area, Hualien area, and Taitung area）was in median level. Also, senior high school students with different variables such as “gender” and “associate of degree（Arts/Science）” made no significant differences to the sensation seeking. c) self-actualization The self-actualization of senior high school students in there area of Taiwan（Ilan area, Hualien area, and Taitung area）was not in high condition. Also, senior high school students with different gender made significant difference to the self-actualization. However, the variable such as “associate of degree（Arts/Science）” made no significant differences to the sensation seeking. d) Significant canonical correlation with three functions exists in creative life experiences and self-actualization. e) Significant canonical correlation with two functions exists in sensation seeking and self-actualization. f) The senior high school students’ creative life experiences could significant predict self-actualization, and “open mind” is more powerful as the predictor. g) The senior high school students’ sensation seeking could significant predict self-actualization, and “thrill and adventure seeking” is more powerful as the predictor. These constructive suggestions have been made according to the analyses of literature and conclusive research. It can be used as a reference for not only teaching and consultation in school education but also making further researching.

碩士<br>國立彰化師範大學<br>教育研究所<br>91<br>Abstract The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among sensation seeking, egocentrism, and risk behavior of junior high school students. Questionnaires were administered to a convenience sample of 1,165 from the middle of Taiwan. Descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, one-way MANOVA, Pearson′s product-moment correlation, canonical correlation, and multiple regression analysis were utilized. The conclusions of major were as follows: 1.Junior high school students perceived their sensation seeking as middle, egocentrism as above middle, and risk behavior as under middle. 2.The effect of background variables on junior high school students′ sensation seeking, egocentrism, and risk behavior was significant. 3.There were significant correlations among the factors of sensation seeking and risk behavior of junior high school students. 4.Junior high school students′ egocentrism and risk behavior were significant correlation. 5.The junior high school students′ sensation seeking and egocentrism could significantly predict their risk behaviors. Based on the results of this study, some suggestions for teachers, administration, and parents are offered. Keywords: Sensation Seeking, Egocentrism, Risk Behavior

碩士<br>國立彰化師範大學<br>教育研究所<br>100<br>The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between academic stress and sensation seeking of 1,141 senior high school students in southern Taiwan. Questionnaire survey has been utilized as the research method and descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, One-way ANOVA, Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple regression analysis were applied to analyze the data. The findings of the study were listed as follows: first, among the facets of academic stress, the degree of “personal factor” was ranked the highest of senior high school students. In addition, among the facets of sensation seeking, the degree of “sensation and risk seeking” was ranked the highest. Second, in terms of the academic stress, there were significant differences in gender and socioeconomic status. Third, there were significant differences in gender with respect to students’ sensation and risk seeking and experience seeking. Fourth, there were significant differences in grades with respect to students’ experience seeking. Fifth, a significantly positive correlation between academic stress and sensation seeking were obtained. Final, family and school factors of senior high school students’ academic stress can positively predict their sensation seeking. The suggestions of the findings were made for parents, teachers, school administrators and future researchers.

碩士<br>國立彰化師範大學<br>教育研究所<br>93<br>This study is intended to probe into the following issues: 1. The present situation with assignment stress and sensation seeking of high school students. 2.Comparisons of different background variables: an individual (gender, grade, academic group, academic achievement, personality trait, interpersonal relationship, family and social status), and the distinction between assignment stress and sensation seeking of the high school students in a class (class size, coeducational class or class of the same gender, the average academic achievement of a class). 3. A probe into the correlation of high school students’ sensation seeking and assignment stress. 4. An analysis of the prediction ability of sensation seeking and assignment stress. Questionnaires were administered to a convenience sample of 1390 students from National Fong Yuan Senior High School. A statistical analysis was conducted by utilizing descriptive statistics, t- test, one-way MANOVA, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s product-moment correlation and multiple regression analysis. Major discoveries in this study are as follows: 1. National Fong Yuan Senior High School students perceived sensation seeking and assignment stress as middle, while they perceived their risk behavior on the scale of sensation seeking and their assignment stress in personal aspects as above middle. 2.High school students’ sensation seeking apparently varies with the differences of their academic group, academic achievement, interpersonal relationship, and class size. High school student's assignment stress apparently varies with the differences of their gender, academic achievement, personality trait, interpersonal relationship, coeducational class or class of the same gender ,and class academic achievement. 3.On the whole, there are apparent relationship between the students' sensation seeking and their assignment stress. Moreover, the greater their assignment stress gets, the higher their sensation seeking gets. Nevertheless, its related coefficient ratio is under middle. 4.Sensation seeking vs. boredom susceptibility, disinhibition that can positively predict assignment stress, thrill adventure seeking that can negatively predict assignment stress. This study demonstrates the existence of proper risk taking behavior, which can reduce student's assignment stress. Instead, improper risk taking behavior will increase students' assignment stress. Based on the conclusions of this study as well as document analysis, some proposals for the educational administration, schools, teachers, parents and the future study are offered.

碩士<br>明道大學<br>資訊傳播學系碩士班<br>101<br>The main purpose of this research is to explore the relationships among “sensation seeking”, “self-control”, and “the internet deviant behavior tendency” of junior high school students. We attained 465 valid samples from junior high school students in Tainan area. We adopted Stratified random sampling method to gather the samples. In addition to the descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe’ method, we use Pearson product moment correlation analysis, multiple stepwise regression analysis to perform the necessary statistical tests. The research results are as follows: 1. Gender and grade make significant difference on “sensation seeking”, “self-control” and “the internet deviant behavior tendency”. (1) Male students are more aware of sensation seeking motive than female students. So are the higher grade students than the lower grade ones. (2) Male students have lower ability of self-control than female students. So do the higher-grade-students than the lower grade ones. (3) Male students exhibit higher levels of the internet deviant behavior tendency than female students. So do the higher-grade-students than the lower grade ones. 2. Sensation seeking, self-control, and the internet deviant behavior tendency have no significant differences in students’ family status. 3. The correlation between “sensation-seeking motive,” “self-control,” and “the internet deviant behavior tendency” are listed below, (1)“Sensation seeking” is significantly positive correlated to “the internet deviant behavior tendency”. (2)“Self control” is significantly negative correlated to “the internet deviant behavior tendency”. (3) “Self-control” is significantly negative correlated to “Sensation seeking”. 4. The internet deviant behavior tendency could be effectively predicted by risk taking component and self-centered component of self-control. We summarize the research and provide recommendations to juveniles, so that they may be free from internet deviant behaviors. Keywords: sensation seeking, self-control, the internet deviant behavior tendency

M.Sc.(Occupational Therapy), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2009<br>Title: The agreement found between the sensory profiles of children 3-10 years and their parents Author: Elsje Geyser Promoter: Denise Franszen School: Therapeutic Sciences Faculty: Health Sciences Degree: MSc.OT Key Concepts: Sensory modulation dysfunction, sensory processing disorder, high threshold, low threshold, sensory profile, low registration behaviour, sensory seeking behaviour, sensory sensitive behaviour, sensation avoiding behaviour. In order to treat a child with sensory modulation disorder (SMD), the impact of SMD on the child’s occupational sphere should be taken into account. This includes the effect of SMD in the parent on the child’s development and behaviour. This study determined the probability of agreement between the parent and child’s sensory profiles. A quantitative, cross sectional study design established the sensory profiles of 81 children and their parents. Results indicated a moderate probability that a child with SMD may have a parent with SMD. A moderate to high probability existed for a parent with SMD to have a child with SMD. This supports the supposition that there is a hereditary component to SMD, with learned sedentary behavioural patterns. The treatment implications include considering the parent’s reaction to their own sensory thresholds and the influence this has on the child’s treatment and learnt behaviour.

Les contrevenants de la conduite avec capacités affaiblies (CCA) n’entrent pas tous dans les registres de la sécurité routière avec le même risque de récidive. Pour pallier cette hétérogénéité, cette thèse propose de modéliser les interrelations entre les traits de personnalité et les comportements à risque associés à la récidive et de détecter un sous-groupe de contrevenants au risque de récidive élevé à l’aide de l’axe hypothalamo-hypophyso-surrénalien (HHS). Plus particulièrement, les trois articles de cette thèse s’intéressent au cortisol, l’hormone du stress. Le premier article élabore un modèle théorique réconciliant les connaissances sur l’axe HHS issues du domaine de la CCA et de domaines connexes. Lors de précédentes études, le nombre de condamnations antérieures pour CCA a été associé négativement à la réactivité du cortisol à la suite d’une situation stressante. Chez les récidivistes, cette faible réactivité s’explique partiellement par la recherche d’expériences, une dimension de la recherche de sensations. Au-delà ce trait de personnalité désinhibiteur, une faible activité de l’axe HHS a été associée à d’autres traits (c.-à-d. impulsivité et tendances antisociales) et d’autres comportements à risque (c.-à-d. infractions routières, arrestations criminelles et consommation problématique de substances psychoactives). Ce modèle intégrant la réactivité du cortisol permet une conceptualisation approfondie des diverses caractéristiques des contrevenants de la CCA et explique hypothétiquement la répétition des comportements à risque. Les deux articles suivants se penchent sur l’intérêt empirique d’utiliser l’axe HHS pour déterminer un sous-groupe de contrevenants à risque élevé de récidive. Plus précisément, le deuxième article émet l’hypothèse que les récidivistes (n = 30) ayant une faible activité de leur cortisol (c.-à-d. médiane de la surface sous la courbe relative au niveau de base et relative à la réactivité) ont davantage de traits de personnalité désinhibiteurs et de comportements à risque que les récidivistes ayant une forte activité. L’hypothèse n’a pas été confirmée. Au contraire, les récidivistes présentant une faible réactivité commettent moins d’infractions routières et d’arrestations criminelles que ceux ayant une forte réactivité. Quant à lui, le troisième article investigue une hypothèse similaire auprès des contrevenants primaires (n = 139). Les contrevenants manifestant une faible réactivité du cortisol (c.-à-d. différence entre prélèvements post-stress et pré-stress) ont davantage d’impulsivité attentionnelle, de non-planification, d’arrestations criminelles et de cigarettes fumées par jour que les contrevenants ayant une forte réactivité. Lors d’analyses exploratoires, la présence d’une variété de traits de personnalité désinhibiteurs et de comportements à risque chez les contrevenants primaires présentant une faible réactivité lorsque comparé au groupe contrôle (n = 31) suggère encore une fois leur risque élevé de récidive. L’intérêt d’ajouter un mécanisme neurobiologique pour modéliser les interrelations entre les traits de personnalité désinhibiteurs et les comportements à risque des contrevenants de la CCA a été exploré dans cette thèse. La détermination d’un sous-groupe de contrevenants présentant un risque élevé de récidive, à l’aide de l’axe HHS, semble davantage profitable auprès de l’hétérogène population des contrevenants primaires. En contrepartie, l’axe HHS ne permet pas de déterminer un sous-groupe ayant une problématique sévère auprès des récidivistes à l’extrême du continuum du risque.<br>Among driving while impaired (DWI) offenders, the risk of recidivism varies greatly. In order to overcome the heterogeneity among this population, the present thesis proposed a renewed conceptualization of DWI. More specifically, a model integrating disinhibitory personality traits and high-risk behaviours associated with DWI recidivism and the categorization of a high-risk subgroup of offenders based on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity has been proposed. Three manuscripts aimed to answer these general objectives using salivary cortisol, that is, the stress hormone. In the first manuscript, the current HPA axis literature of DWI offenders and other high-risk populations have been merged into a comprehensive theoretical model. Previous studies have demonstrated an inverse correlation between DWI convictions frequency and cortisol reactivity to stress. Among recidivists, cortisol reactivity was partially explained by experience seeking, a sensation seeking dimension. Beyond this disinhibitory personality trait, low HPA axis activity has been linked to various traits (e.g., impulsivity and antisocial tendencies) and high-risk behaviours (e.g., traffic infractions, criminal arrests, and psychoactive drugs). By incorporating cortisol reactivity, this model stimulates a thorough conceptualization of several DWI offenders’ characteristics and as such, explains hypothetically repetition of high-risk behaviours. The following manuscripts are less theoretical and more empirical. The detection of a high-risk recidivism subgroup delineated with HPA axis activity has been investigated among two DWI offender populations. More specifically, the second manuscript hypothesized that among DWI recidivists (n = 30), low cortisol responders have more characteristics linked to recidivism such as disinhibitory personality traits and high-risk behaviours than high cortisol responders (as defined by the area under the curve sensitive to total hormonal release and to response to stimulation). This hypothesis was not supported. On the contrary, low cortisol DWI recidivists have less traffic infractions and criminal arrests than high cortisol recidivists. Finally, the third manuscript investigated a similar hypothesis but this time, among first-time DWI offenders (n = 139). Results demonstrated that low cortisol offenders have more attentional impulsiveness, non-planning impulsiveness, criminal arrests and cigarettes consumed per day than high cortisol offenders (as defined by post-stress minus pre-test episode). An exploratory analysis showed a more prevalent variety of disinhibitory personality trait and high-risk behaviours among low cortisol offenders compared to a non-DWI comparator group (n = 31). These results reinforce the potentially higher recidivism risk of this first-time DWI offenders subgroup. Neurobiological mechanism usefulness in modelling disinhibitory personality trait and high-risk behaviours of DWI offenders has been investigated in the present thesis. Additionally, detection of a high-risk recidivism subgroup seems more relevant among heterogeneous first-time DWI offenders. Instead, HPA axis activity is not as useful in detecting a problematic subgroup among the most severe offenders, namely recidivists.