Personality, Sensation Seeking, and Risk- Taking Behavior in a College Population ALISSA C. HUTH-BOCKS This study investigated the relationship between personality characteristics and sensation seeking, as well as sex differences in risk-taking behaviors such as sub- University of Michigan stance abuse and unsafe sex. The sample consisted of 47 undergraduate students (22 men and 25 women) at a public, midwestern university. The Sensation Seek- ing Scale (SSS)–Form V and a personality questionnaire that yields the Big Five personality traits were administered to all participants. Results indicated Extro- version predicted sensation seeking in females only, whereas low Agreeableness and low Conscientiousness predicted sensation seeking in the entire sample. Furthermore, men appeared to be significantly more willing to and interested in taking risks than women. These findings help explain who is most likely to engage in risky behaviors in an undergraduate population, which ultimately could be used to develop more efficacious prevention programs for this population. HE TRAIT OF SENSATION SEEKING HAS BEST correlated with levels of monoamine oxidase (MAO), been defined as “the need for varied, novel an enzyme that is found in brain systems involved in Tand complex sensations and experiences and the regulation of pleasure, rewards and punishments, the willingness to take physical and social risks for and emotional arousal (Arque, Unzeta, & Torrubia, the sake of such experience” (Zuckerman, 1979a, 1988; Schooler, Zahn, Murphy, & Buchsbaum, 1978; p. 10). Although a person’s preference for such ex- Zuckerman, 1983). High sensation seekers have lower periences may fluctuate over time, it is generally ac- amounts of MAO, which may lead them to require cepted that individuals differ on their “optimal” level more stimulation to feel adequate levels of pleasure of stimulation, and each person’s preferred level will or arousal. be consistent across many behaviors and activities with Since sensation seekers need novel and exciting some long-range stability (Hebb, 1955; Kish & Busse, experiences, they often engage in physically risky 1968; Zuckerman, 1971). For example, individuals behaviors. The first studies of sensation seeking (e.g., with a higher optimal level of stimulation will consis- Zuckerman, 1964) tended to focus on sporting ac- tently seek out more stimulation and excitation than tivities and hobbies. For example, it was shown that those with a lower optimal level. sky divers (Hymbaugh & Garrett, 1974) and scuba Researchers have attempted to explain the dif- divers (Heyman & Rose, 1980) scored significantly ferences between high sensation seekers and low sen- higher on sensation seeking than controls. With the sation seekers in numerous ways. Several possible bio- serious threat of AIDS and other sexually transmit- logical explanations for sensation seeking may be that ted diseases, there has been an increasing number of high sensation seekers (a) have a low base level of arousal which leads them to seek intense stimuli; (b) Author’s Note. This paper was presented at the 103rd Annual Con- have a low level of reactivity requiring more intense vention of the American Psychological Association, August 1995. The author wishes to thank Dr. Albert Cain for continued guid- stimuli to excite them; or (c) habituate to stimuli at a ance throughout the stages of this project and Dr. Lisa Thomson much quicker rate which results in a need for novel Ross and the Coping Study group for valuable comments and as- stimuli to avoid boredom (Smith, Davidson, Perlstein, sistance with the final manuscript preparation. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed Oster, & Gonzalez, 1989; Zuckerman, 1991). Sensa- to Alissa C. Huth-Bocks, Michigan State University, 129 Psychol- tion seeking also has been shown to be negatively ogy Research Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1117. PSI CHI JOURNAL OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Fall/Winter 1996 53 Copyright 1996 by Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology (Vol. 1, No. 3–4, 53– 61 / ISSN 1089-4136). RISKY BEHAVIOR Huth-Bocks studies addressing risky sexual behaviors as well. focuses on feelings of fear and anxiety, and Intellect, Zuckerman, Tushup, and Finner (1976) reported a the fifth factor, measures a person’s capacity to be significant relationship between more accepting atti- insightful and imaginative as well as willingness to be tudes towards risky sexual behaviors and sensation intellectually curious. seeking among college students. Other researchers Not surprisingly, numerous studies have reported (Carpenter, Volpe, & Faith, 1993) also found certain significant correlations between sensation seeking aspects of sensation seeking to be significant predic- and the broader trait Surgency, or Extroversion tors of risky sexual behaviors among college students. (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1985; Farley & Farley, 1967; Although individuals may recognize and under- Zuckerman, Kuhlman, & Camac, 1988). Extroversion stand the general risks of AIDS and other diseases, has been particularly correlated with physically risky they do not behave any more safely; that is, by using sporting activities (Eysenck & McGuirk, 1980). Ex- condoms (Horvath & Zuckerman, 1993; Trocki, 1992; troverts, like sensation seekers, also have been shown Wulfert & Wan, 1993). Williams et al. (1992) reported to have lower levels of arousability and reactivity in 72% of college students had been sexually active dur- the nervous system (Zuckerman, 1991). ing the previous year and of those who had been sexu- Researchers have also found that sensation seek- ally active, 75% had not always used condoms. Other ing is strongly correlated with psychoticism, as mea- reported risky behaviors included the setting for the sured by Eysenck’s P factor (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1985; sexual activity, the number of sexual partners, and Zuckerman et al., 1988). This factor is described by the types of sexual relationships. aggressive, impersonal, antisocial, and egocentric Substance abuse has also been repeatedly linked characteristics. Several researchers have noted the to the trait sensation seeking. Carrol and Zuckerman opposite of P is similar to the third factor in the Big (1977), for example, found an association between Five model, Conscientiousness (McCrae & Costa, drug use and certain types of sensation-seeking pref- 1985; Zuckerman, 1991). Indeed, it has been reported erences such as the tendency to become bored quickly that high sensation seekers score significantly lower with stimuli and the tendency to behave without in- on Conscientiousness (Hogan, 1982) and lower on hibition. Other researchers have found a positive re- Orderliness (Zuckerman & Link, 1968). The oppo- lationship between the amount of alcohol consump- site of P may have an even stronger relationship with tion (Pederson, 1991) and the frequency of alcohol Agreeableness, the second factor in the Big Five use (Hill & Thomson Ross, 1995) and other types of model, than with the Conscientiousness factor, even sensation seeking. Furthermore, several studies have though both have been shown to correlate negatively shown sexually risky behavior is more frequently ac- with P (McCrae & Costa, 1985; Zuckerman, 1991). It companied by alcohol and drug usage (Biglan, follows then that less agreeable people should also Metzler, Wirt, & Ary, 1990; Williams et al., 1992), score higher on sensation seeking. Surprisingly, the which is understandable since risk takers tend to en- literature on Agreeableness and sensation seeking is gage in risky behaviors over a wide variety of situa- sparse. tions (Donovan & Jessor, 1985; Osgood, Johnston, Finally, it has been argued that someone with O’Malley, & Bachman, 1988). Clearly, unsafe sexual abnormally low levels of anxiety has more of a ten- behaviors and substance abuse, both linked to sensa- dency to engage in risk-taking behavior (Gray, 1981). tion seeking, are prevalent problems among college As such, it follows that anxiety should be negatively students that need to be addressed. correlated with sensation seeking. However, most Researchers have tried to link sensation seeking studies have found no correlation between sensation and risk-taking tendencies with other traits using seeking and neuroticism or anxiety scores (Zucker- Eysenck’s three-factor model (1947) and the Big Five man, 1971; Zuckerman, 1979b; Zuckerman, 1983). factor model (Norman, 1963). Norman’s model pro- Perhaps anxiety, or its corresponding Big Five factor poses there are five broad personality traits that ac- Emotional Stability, is simply unrelated to sensation count for English-language trait descriptors. These seeking. That is, sensation seekers may be high or five factors have consistently been found across a va- low on Emotional Stability (Zuckerman, 1991). It is riety of studies using different factor-analytic proce- also possible that Emotional Stability lacks validity as dures. The first factor, Surgency, measures sociability an anxiety measure. and activity. The second factor, Agreeableness, mea- Since sensation seeking and risky behavior have sures trustworthiness, ability to sympathize, and co- been linked to certain biological variables and per- operativeness. The third factor, Conscientiousness, sonality characteristics, it is not surprising investiga- measures organization, dependability, and similar tors have also attempted to discover if and how men constructs. Emotional Stability, the fourth factor, and women differ on certain types of sensation seek- 54 PSI CHI JOURNAL