Are You a Thrill Seeker or a Chill Seeker?

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Oct 30, 2024

Join Dr. Kenneth Carter, a clinical psychologist and author of "Buzz!", as he explores the fascinating world of sensation-seekers versus chill-seekers. Discover how personality traits influence our desire for adventure or comfort through an engaging quiz. Delve into the psychological and biological aspects of thrill-seeking behaviors, including the role of testosterone and dopamine. Learn how these differing traits impact relationships, work dynamics, and the quest for excitement, with practical tips on fostering understanding between these contrasting personalities.

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INSIGHT

Spectrum of Sensation Seeking

People enjoy surprises and novelty in varying degrees, influenced by factors like sensation-seeking.
Some individuals crave intense thrills, while others prefer calm and predictable experiences.

INSIGHT

Evolutionary Perspective on Sensation Seeking

High sensation seekers may have evolutionary benefits due to their tolerance of chaos and danger.
A balance of sensation seekers and chill seekers contributes to a well-rounded society.

INSIGHT

Sensation Seeking: A Mini-Theory

Sensation seeking is a "mini-theory" of personality that focuses on thrill-seeking tendencies.
It differs from "grand theories" like the Big Five, which encompass broader personality aspects.

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This episode starts off a little differently than others — with a short quiz, something called the Brief Sensation-Seeking Scale, which will tell you whether you're what psychologists call a high sensation-seeker or a low sensation-seeker. Read the following eight statements, and then pick a number from 1 to 5 that corresponds to your level of agreement, where 1 is "Not at all like me," 2 is "Not like me," 3 is "Unsure or both like and not like me," 4 is "Like me," and 5 is "Very much like me."

I would like to explore strange places.

I would like to take off on a trip with no pre-planned routes or timetables.

I get restless when I spend too much time alone.

I prefer friends who are excitingly unpredictable.

I like wild parties.

I would love to have new and exciting experiences, even if they are illegal.

I would like to try bungee jumping.

I would like to do frightening things.

Now add up all the numbers together. If you scored between 8 and 16, you are a low sensation-seeker. If you scored between 16 and 28, you're about average for sensation-seeking. If you scored over 28, you're a high sensation-seeker.

Today on the show, I unpack what these categories of personality mean with Dr. Kenneth Carter, a clinical psychologist, a professor, and the author of Buzz!: Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies. Ken explains how sensation-seeking exists on a spectrum between chill seekers, who like safety and calm routine, and thrill seekers, who enjoy chaos, risk, and novelty. He shares how there are actually four components to high sensation-seeking, and which two tend to get people in trouble. And we talk about whether being high or low sensation-seeking is a matter of nature or nurture, how high sensation-seekers fare in romantic relationships and what they should consider in choosing a career, and what the world's chill seekers can learn from its thrill seekers.

Resources Related to the Podcast

40-Question Sensation-Seeking Scale Test

Connect with Ken Carter

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