Self-Assessment:Sensation-Seekingscale

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Self-Assessment:Sensation-SeekingScale

Instructions

Eachofthe items belowcontainstwochoices, Aand B.Pleaseindicate inthespaces provided onthe left whichofthechoices most describesyourlikesorthewayyoufeel.Itisimportantthat you respondto

a!Iitemswithonlyonechoice, AorB.Insome casesyoumayfindthat both choices describe your likes

orthewayyoufeel.Pleasechoosethe one that better describesyourlikesorfeelings. Insome casesyou maynotlikeeither choice. Inthese cases markthechoice youdislikeleast.Weareinterestedonlyinyour likesorfeelings, notinhow others feelaboutthese things orhowoneissupposedtofee!.Thereare norightorwronganswers.Befrankand giveyourhonest appraisal ofyourself.

TheScale

_____ 1.A.Iwouldlikeajobthatwouldrequirealotof traveling.

B. Iwouldpreferajobinonelocation.

_____ 2.A.Iaminvigoratedbyabrisk,coldday.

B.I can'twaittogetindoors onacoldday.

_____ 3.A.I findacertain pleasure inroutine kindsofwork.

B.Althoughitissometimesnecessary, Iusuallydislike routine kindsofwork.

_____ 4.A.IoftenwishIcould beamountain climber.

B.Ican'tunderstandpeoplewhorisktheirnecksclimb

ingmountains.

_____ 5.A.Idislike allbodyodors.

B.Ilikesomeoftheearthy bodysmells.

_____ 6.A.Igetboredseeing thesameoldfaces.

B.Ilikethecomfortablefamiliarityofeveryday friends.

_____ 7.A.Iliketoexploreastrangecityorsection oftownby myself,evenifitmeansgetting lost.

B. Ipreferaguide whenIaminaplaceIdon'tknow well.

_____ 8.A.1findthequickest andeasiest routetoaplaceand sticktoit.

B. Isometimestakedifferent routes toaplaceIoften go, justforvariety'ssake.

_____ 9.A.Iwouldnotliketotryanydrugthatmightproduce strange anddangerouseffects onme.

B.1wouldliketotrysomeofthenewdrugs thatpro

ducehallucinations.

_____ 10.A. Iwouldprefer livinginanidealsociety whereevery oneissafe,secure, andhappy.

B.Iwouldhavepreferred livingintheunsettled daysof ourhistmy.

11. A. Isometimesliketodothingsthatarealittle frightening.

B. Asensible person avoidsactivitiesthatare dangerous.

_____12. A.Iorderdishes withwhichIamfamiliar,soastoavoid disappointmentandunpleasantness.

B.IliketotrynewfoodsthatIhavenevertasted before.

_____13. A.Ican't standriding withapersonwholikestospeed.

B.Isometimesliketodriveveryfastbecause Ifindit exciting.

14.A.IfIwereasalesperson,Iwouldpreferastraight salaryrather thantheriskofmaking littleornothing onacommissionbasis.

B.IfIwereasalesperson,Iwouldprefer working ona commissionifIhadachance tomakemoremoney thanIcouldonasalary.

15.A.Iwouldliketotakeupthesportofwaterskiing.

B.Iwouldnotliketotakeupthesportofwaterskiing.

_____16.A.Idon'tliketoarguewithpeoplewhose beliefsarc sharply divergentfrommine,sincesucharguments areneverresolved.

B.I findpeople whodisagree withmybeliefs more stimulatingthanpeoplewhoagreewithme.

_____17.A.WhenIgoonatrip,Iliketoplanmyrouteandtime tablefairlycarefully.

B.Iwouldliketotakeoffonatripwithnopre-planned ordefinite routesortimetables.

____18. A.Ienjoy thethrillsofwatching carraces.

B.Ifindcarracesunpleasant.

19.A.Most peoplespendentirelytoomuch moneyonlife insurance.

B.Lifeinsuranceissomethingthatnoonecanaffordto bewithout.

20.A.Iwouldliketolearntoflyanairplane.

B.Iwouldnotliketolearntoflyanairplane.

21.A. Iwouldnotliketobehypnotized.

B. Iwouldliketohavetheexperienceofbeing hypnotized.

_____22.A.Themostimportantgoaloflifeistoliveittothefull

estandexperienceasmuchofitasyoucan.

B. Themostimportantgoaloflifeistofindpeaceand happiness.

PERSONALEXPLORATIONS WORKBOOKW-9

23.A.Iwouldliketotryparachutejumping.

B. Iwouldneverwanttotryjumping outofaplane, withorwithout aparachute.

24.A.Ientercoldwatergradually, giving myselftimetoget usedtoit.

B. Iliketodiveorjumprightintotheoceanoracold pool.

25.A. Idonotliketheirregularityanddiscord ofmost

modernmusic.

B. Iliketolistentonewandunusual kindsofmusic.

26.A. Ipreferfriends whoareexcitinglyunpredictable.

B. Ipreferfriends whoarereliable andpredictable.

27.A. When Igoonavacation, Iprefer thecomfort ofa

goodroomandbed.

B. WhenIgoonavacation, Iwouldprefer thechange ofcampingout.

28.A.Theessenceofgoodartisinitsclarity, symmetryof form,andharmonyofcolors.

B. Ioftenfindbeautyinthe"clashing"colorsandir

regularformsofmodern paintings.

29.A.Theworstsocialsinistoberude.

B. Theworstsocialsinistobeabore.

30.A.Ilookforward toagoodnightofrestafteralongday.

B. IwishIdidn't havetowastesomuchofadaysleeping.

31.A.Ipreferpeople whoareemotionallyexpressive even iftheyareabitunstable.

B. Ipreferpeople whoarecalmandeventempered.

32.A.Agoodpainting should shockorjoltthesenses.

B. Agoodpainting should givebneafeeling ofpeace andsecurity.

33. A.WhenIfeeldiscouraged,1recover byrelaxing and havingsomesoothing diversion.

B. When Ifeeldiscouraged,Irecover bygoingoutand doingsomethingnewandexciting.

34. A. Peoplewhoridemotorcyclesmusthavesomekindof anunconsciousneedtohurtthemselves.

B.Iwouldliketodriveorrideonamotorcycle.

ScoringtheScale

WhattheScaleMeasures

Asitsnameimplies,theSensation-SeekingScale(SSS)measures one'sneedforahighlevelofstimulation.Sensationseeking involvestheactive pursuitofexperiencesthatmanypeople would findverystressful.Asdiscussedinthechapter, Marvin Zuckerman (1994, 2007) believes thatthisthirstforsensationisahighlyheritablepersonalitytraitthatleadspeopletoseekthrills, adventures, andnewexperiences.

Thescaleyouhavejustrespondedtoisthesecond version ofthe SSS (Zuckerman,1979), butitsharesagreatdealofoverlap with thecurrent version (Arnaut,2006).Sensation seekingisdistributed along acontinuum,andmany peoplefallinthemiddle.Factor analysesindicatethatthepersonalitytraitofsensationseeking consistsoffourrelated components.Whencomparedtolowsensation seekers, thosehighinsensationseeking display thefollowingfour setsofcharacteristics(Arnaut,2006;Zuckerman,1994):

Thrillandadventureseeking. They'remorewilling toengagein activitiesthatmayinvolveaphysical risk.Thus, they'remore likelytogomountainclimbing,skydiving,surfing, andscuba diving.

Experienceseeking.They'remorewilling tovolunteerfor

unusualexperimentsoractivities thattheymayknowlittle about.They tendtorelishextensive travel, provocativeart, wildparties, andunusualfriends.

Disinhibition.Theyarerelatively uninhibited.Hence, theyare

pronetoengageinheavydrinking, recreationaldruguse,gambling,andsexual experimentation.

Susceptibilitytoboredom.Theirchief foeismonotony.They

havealowtoleranceforroutineandrepetition,and theyquickly andeasily becomebored.

Testretest reliabilitiesarequiterespectableandthereisample evidencetosupportthescale'spredictive validity.Forexample, studiesshow thathighsensationseekers appraise hypotheti-

calsituationsaSlessriskythanlowsensationseekersdoandare

morewillingtovolunteerforanexperimentinwhich theywillbe hypnotized.The scalealsoshowsrobust positivecorrelationswith measuresofchange seeking,noveltyseeking,andimpulsiveness. Interestingly,SSS scorestendtodeclinewithage.

InterpretingYourScore

Our normsarebasedonpercentilesreported byZuckermanand colleaguesforasampleof62undergraduates.Althoughmales generallytendtoscoreabithigherthanfemales ontheSSS,the differencesaresmallenoughtoreportonesetof(averaged)norms. Remember,sensation-seekingscorestendtodeclinewithage.So,

ifyou'renotinthemodalcollege student agerange(17-23),these

normsmaybeabithigh.

Norms

Thescoring keyisreproducedbelow.Youshould circleyourre sponseofAorBeachtimeitcorrespondstothekeyedresponse be low.Addupthenumber ofresponsesyoucircled.Thistotalisyour scoreontheSensation-SeekingScale. Record yourscorebelow.

Highscore: Intermediatescore: Low score:

21-34

11-20

0-10

l.A / 8.8 / 15.A / 22.A / 29.8
2.A / 9.8 / 16.8 / 23.A / 30.8
3.8 / 10.8 / 17.8 / 24.8 / 3l.A
4.A
5.8 / ll.A
12.8 / 18.A
19.A / 25.8
26.A / 32.A
33.8
6.A / 13.8 / 20.A / 27.8 / 34.B
7.A / 14.8 / 21.8 / 28.8

Myscore _

W·lOPERSONALEXPLORATIONSWORKBOOK

Self-Reflection:WhoAre You?

Belowyouwillfind75personalitytraitwords takenfromaninfluential listassembledby Anderson

(1968).Trytoselectthe20traits(20only!)thatdescribe youbest.Check them.

sincere pessimistic openMmindedsuspicious
patient / forgetful crafty methodical sly
headstrong / truthful mature skeptical efficient
resourceful / imaginative impolite diligent prideful optimistic / outgoing dependable persistent orderly energetic
tense / naive / perceptive / considerate / modest
cooperative / sloppy / punctual / courteous / smart
neat / grouchy / prejudiced / candid / kind
logical / ethical / friendly / idealistic / good-humored
vain / persuasive / gracious / warm / unselfish
sociable / nervous / shy / versatile / cordial
scornful / clumsy / Short-tempered / courageous / wholesome
cheerful / rebellious / compulsive / tactful / generous
honest / studious / sarcastic / loyal / boastful
reasonable / understanding / respectful / reliable / daring

Review the20traitsthatyouchose.Overall, isitafavorableorunfavorablepicture thatyouhave sketched?

ConsideringCarlRogers'spointthatweoften distort realityandconstructanoverlyfavorableselfconcept,doyoufeelthatyouwereobjective?

Whatcharacteristicsmakeyouunique?

Whatareyourgreatest strengths?

Whatareyourgreatestweaknesses?

PERSONALEXPLORATIONSWORKBOOKW-11

Self-Assessment:The LifeExperiencesSurvey(LES)

Instructions

Listedbelowareanumberofevents thatsometimesbringaboutchange inthelivesofthose whoexperiencethem andthatnecessitatesocialreadjustment.Examineeach event onthelist,and ifthat event hasoccurredinyourlifeduringthe pastyearpleaseindicate theextenttowhichyouviewed theeventashaving eitherapositiveornegativeimpact onyourlifeatthetimeitoccurred.Thatis,circleanumber ontheappropriatelinetoindicate thetypeandextentofimpactthat theevent had.Arating of-3 wouldindicate anextremelynegativeimpact.Aratingof0suggestsnoimpact, eitherpositiveornegative.Aratingof+3would indicateanextremelypositiveimpact.

The Scale

Section1

Extremely Moderately negativenegative

Slightly

negative

impact

Slightly

positive

Moderately Extremely positivepositive

g. Spouse / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
+3
+3
h. Other(specify) / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2
16. / Sexualdifficulties / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2
17. / Troublewithemployer(indangerof losingjob,being / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
suspended,beingdemoted,etc.)
18. Troublewithinlaws-3-2-10+1+2+3
19. / Majorchangeinfinancialstatus(alotbetterofforalot / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
worseoff)
20. / Majorchangein closenessoffamilymembers
(increasedor decreasedcloseness) / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
21. / Gaininganewfamilymember(throughbirth,adoption, / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
familymembermovingin,etc.)
22. / Changeinresidence / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
23. / Marital separationfrommate(duetoconflict) / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
24. / Majorchangeinchurchactivities(increased or / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
decreasedattendance)
25. / Maritalreconciliationwithmate / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
26. / Majorchangeinnumberofargumentswithspouse(a / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
lotmoreoralotfewer)
27. / Marriedmale:Changeinwife'sworkoutside thehome
(beginningwork,ceasingwork, changingtoanewjob, / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
etc.)
28. / Marriedfemale:Changeinhusband'swork(loss ofjob, beginningnewjob,retirement,etc.) / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
29. / Majorchangeinusualtypeand/oramountofrecreation / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
30. / Borrowingfora majorpurchase(buyingahome, business,etc.) / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
31. / Borrowingforasmallerpurchase(buyingacarorTV, / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
getting schoolloan,etc.)
32. / Beingfiredfromjob / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
33. / Male:Wife/girlfriendhavinganabortion / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
34. / Female;Havinganabortion / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
35. / Majorpersonalillnessor injury / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
36. / Majorchangeinsocialactivities,e.g.,parties,movies, / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
visiting(increasedor decreasedparticipation)
37. / Majorchange inlivingconditionsoffamily (building newhome,remodeling,deteriorationofhome or / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
neighborhood,etc.)
38. / Divorce / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
39. / Seriousinjuryorillnessofclosefriend / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
40. / Retirementfromwork / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
41. / Sonordaughterleavinghome(duetomarriage,college, / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
etc.)
42. / Endofformalschooling / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
43. / Separationfromspouse (duetowork,travel,etc.) / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
44. Engagement-3-2-10+1+2+3
45. / Breakingupwithboyfriend/girlfriend / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3
46. / Leavinghomeforthefirsttime / -3 / -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 / +3

W-14PERSONALEXPLORATIONSWORKBOOK

47. Reconciliationwithboyfriend/girlfriend-3'·'2-I0+I+2+3

Otherrecentexperiencesthathavehadanimpactonyour life.Listandrate.

48. ______-3-2-I0+I+2+3

49. ______-3-2-I0+I+2+3

5o.______-3-2-I0+I+2+3

______

Section2.Studentsonly

51. Beginninganewschoolexperience atahigher-3-2-I0+I+2+3

academic level(college, graduateschool,professional

school)

52. Changingtoanewschoolatthesameacademic level-3-2-I0+I+2+3

(undergraduate,graduate,etc.)

53. Academicprobation-3-2-I0+I+2+3

54. Beingdismissed fromdormitory orotherresidence-3-2-I0+I+2+3

55. Failinganimportantexam-3-2-I0+I+2+3

56. Changinga major-3-2-I0+I+2+3

57. Failingacourse-3-2-I0+I+2+3

58. Droppingacourse-3-2-I0+I+2+3

59. Joiningafraternity/sorority-3-2-I0+I+2+3

60. Financialproblemsconcerningschool(in dangerofnot-3-2-I0+I+2+3

havingsufficientmoneytocontinue)

ScoringtheScale

ArrivingatyourscoresontheLESisverysimple.Addupallthe

positiveimpactratingsontherightside.Thetotalisyourposi-

tivechangescore.Yournegativechangescoreisthe sumofallof

thenegativeimpactratingsthatyoumadeontheleftside.Adding

thesetwovaluesyieldsyourtotalchangescore.Recordyourscores

below.

Mypositivechangescore _ Mynegativechangescore _ Mytotalchangescore _

WhattheScaleMeasures

TheLifeExperiencesSurvey(LES),assembledby IrwinSarasonandcolleagues(1978),hasbecomeawidelyusedmeasureofstress incontemporaryresearch(forexamplesseeAmesetal.,2001; DenisoffEndler,2000;Malefo,2000).TheLESrecognizesthat stressinvolvesmorethanmerechangeandasksrespondentsto indicatewhethereventshadapositiveornegativeimpactonthem. Thisstrategyhelpsresearchersgainmuchmoreinsightintowhich

arenotincludedonthescale.Finally,theLEShasanextrasection justforstudents.

InterpretingYourScore

Approximatenormsforallthreeofthe scoresarelistedbelowso thatyoucangetsomeideaofwhatyourscoremeans.Researchto datesuggeststhatthenegativechangescoreisthecrucialone;pos itivechangehasnotbeenfoundtobeagoodpredictorofadapta tionaloutcomes.Thusfar,researchhasshownthatnegativechange scoresarerelatedtoavarietyofnegativeadaptationaloutcomes.

Thereismeritingettinganestimateofhowmuchstressyouhave experiencedlately,butscoresontheLESshouldbeinterpreted withcaution.Youneednotpanicifyouaddupyournegative changescoreandfindthatitfallsinthe"high"category.Forone thing,the strengthoftheassociationbetweenstressandadapta

tionalproblemsismodest.Second,stressinteractswithmanyother

factors,suchaslifestyle,copingskills,socialsupport,hardiness, andgeneticinheritance,ininfluencingone'smentalandphysical health.

Normsfor LES

facetsofstressaremostcrucial.TheLESalsotakesintoconsid

erationdifferencesamongpeopleintheirappraisalofstress,by droppingthenormativeweightsandreplacingthemwithpersonally assignedweightingsoftheimpactofrelevantevents.TheLESal

lowstherespondenttowriteinpersonallyimportanteventsthat

Scorechange HighMedium Low

Negativechange

14andabove

4-13

0-3

Positivechange

16andabove

7-15

0-6

Totalchange

28andabove

12-27

0-11

PERSONALEXPLORATIONSWORKBOOKW-15

Self-Reflection:Stress-HowDoYouControlIt?

1. Domodemlifestylescreatemorestressthaninthepast?Howso?

2. Howdoyoucreatestressinyourownlife?

3. Howcouldyouchangethenatureofoursocietytomake itlessstressful?

4. Itcouldbesaidthatsomestresscomesfromleading"out-of-balance"lives.Whatcanpeopledoto "keepitsimple"?Furthermore,inwhatwayscan individualscontrolthestressorstheywillencounter beforehand?

5. Howcouldyouchangethewayinwhichyouinteractwithyourschooldemandsoryourwork demandstochangetheamountofstressthatyoufeel?

W-16PERSONAL ExPLORATIONS WORKBOOK