Psychology

Sensation seeking: A new conceptualization and a new scale

Document Type

Article

Abstract

A new conception of sensation seeking is presented, along with a new scale [the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS)]. The new conception emphasizes novelty and intensity as the two components of sensation seeking. Two studies were conducted to validate the new scale. In the first study, the AISS was found to be more strongly related to risk behavior than Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) among 116 adolescents aged 16-18 years, although the new scale contains no items related to risk behavior (in contrast to the SSS). In the second study, involving 139 adolescents, similar relations were found between the AISS and risk behavior, and the new scale was also found to be significantly correlated with the Aggression subscale of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI). In addition, adults (N = 38) were found to be lower in sensation seeking than adolescents. In both studies, males were higher in sensation seeking than females. © 1994.

Publication Title

Personality and Individual Differences

Publication Date

1994

Volume

16

Issue

2

First Page

289

Last Page

296

ISSN

0191-8869

DOI

10.1016/0191-8869(94)90165-1

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