SSS-V: Sensation Seeking Scale-Form V

Reviewed by: Constantin Rezlescu | Associate Professor | UCL Psychology

Introduction

The Sensation Seeking Scale-Form V (SSS-V) is the most widely used measure of individual differences in the tendency to seek varied, novel, complex, and intense sensations and experiences. Developed by Marvin Zuckerman in 1978, this 40-item forced-choice questionnaire assesses the willingness to take physical, social, legal, and financial risks for the sake of such experiences, making it essential for understanding risk-taking behavior across multiple domains.

The SSS-V represents the culmination of decades of research by Zuckerman and colleagues into the biological and behavioral foundations of sensation seeking. It evolved from earlier forms of the Sensation Seeking Scale, incorporating improvements in item content, subscale structure, and psychometric properties based on extensive empirical testing.

The Psychology of Sensation Seeking

Sensation seeking represents a fundamental personality trait characterized by the search for experiences and feelings that are varied, novel, complex, and intense, and the willingness to take physical, social, legal, and financial risks for the sake of such experiences. This trait has profound implications for understanding human behavior across the lifespan.

Biological foundations:

Zuckerman’s research demonstrates that sensation seeking has strong biological roots, including substantial heritability (approximately 60% in twin studies) and neurochemical correlates. The trait is associated with:

• Dopaminergic system activity: Higher sensation seekers show enhanced dopamine response to novel stimuli
• Optimal arousal theory: Individuals differ in their preferred levels of stimulation and arousal
• MAO activity: Inverse relationship between monoamine oxidase levels and sensation seeking
• Hormonal factors: Associations with testosterone and other hormones influencing risk-taking

Developmental trajectory:

Sensation seeking follows a characteristic developmental pattern:

• Increases through childhood and adolescence
• Peaks in late adolescence/early twenties (typically ages 18-25)
• Gradually declines throughout adulthood
• Shows greater decline in physical risk-taking (TAS) than other dimensions

This age-related pattern helps explain the concentration of risk-taking behaviors in young adulthood.

Theoretical Foundation

The SSS-V is grounded in Zuckerman’s biological theory of sensation seeking, which posits that this trait reflects differences in optimal levels of stimulation and arousal. The theory integrates multiple levels of analysis:

Psychobiological level: Sensation seeking stems from inherited variations in neurotransmitter systems that regulate arousal, approach behavior, and sensitivity to reward and punishment.

Behavioral level: High sensation seekers actively create or seek out stimulating environments to maintain their preferred arousal levels, while low sensation seekers prefer more predictable, less intense experiences.

Four-dimensional structure:

The SSS-V assesses sensation seeking through four distinct but related dimensions:

Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS) reflects desire for physical risk-taking through activities involving speed, danger, and adventure. This dimension shows the strongest decline with age and largest gender differences.

Experience Seeking (ES) captures the search for novelty through the mind and senses, including unconventional lifestyle choices, travel, music, art, and nonconforming friends. This dimension relates most strongly to openness to experience.

Disinhibition (Dis) measures the tendency toward social stimulation through parties, social drinking, variety in sexual partners, and gambling. This dimension shows strong associations with substance abuse and antisocial behavior.

Boredom Susceptibility (BS) reflects intolerance for repetitive experiences, routine work, and predictable, unchanging environments. This dimension involves restlessness when things become familiar or routine.

These four dimensions emerged from factor analytic research and represent distinct but correlated aspects of the broader sensation seeking construct. Different patterns across dimensions can predict specific behavioral outcomes.

🎯 Predictive Power: The SSS-V is one of the strongest personality predictors of actual risk-taking behaviors across diverse life domains.

Key Features

Assessment Characteristics

• 40 items in forced-choice format presenting clear alternatives
• 10-15 minutes administration time
• Ages 16+ through adult populations
• Four subscales (10 items each) measuring distinct dimensions
• Forced-choice format reduces social desirability bias
• Freely available for research with proper attribution

Sensation Seeking Dimensions Assessed

Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS):

• Physical risk-taking and extreme activities
• Outdoor sports involving speed or danger
• Adventure and excitement through action

Experience Seeking (ES):

• Novel experiences through mind and senses
• Unconventional lifestyle and nonconformity
• Travel, art, music, and unusual people

Disinhibition (Dis):

• Social stimulation through parties and drinking
• Sexual variety and uninhibited behavior
• Social risk-taking and impulsivity

Boredom Susceptibility (BS):

• Intolerance for repetitive experiences
• Restlessness in unchanging environments
• Aversion to routine and predictability

Research and Applied Applications

• Risk behavior research predicting substance use, dangerous driving, risky sex
• Substance abuse studies on vulnerability, prevention, and treatment planning
• Personality research examining biological bases and trait correlates
• Occupational psychology for high-risk profession assessment and selection
• Health psychology understanding health risk behaviors and prevention
• Criminal psychology studying antisocial behavior and delinquency
• Cross-cultural research on universal and culture-specific risk patterns

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Assess your sensation seeking profile across four dimensions of risk-taking and novelty seeking.

Scoring and Interpretation

Response Format

For each item, participants choose between two statements (A or B), selecting the one that better describes their preferences or feelings.

Sample Items by Subscale

Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS):

• A) “I would like to try parachute jumping”
• B) “I would never want to try jumping out of a plane, with or without a parachute”

Experience Seeking (ES):

• A) “I like to have new and exciting experiences and sensations even if they are a little frightening, unconventional, or illegal”
• B) “A sensible person avoids activities that are dangerous”

Disinhibition (Dis):

• A) “I like wild, uninhibited parties”
• B) “I prefer quiet parties with good conversation”

Boredom Susceptibility (BS):

• A) “I get bored seeing the same old faces”
• B) “I like the comfortable familiarity of everyday friends”

Scoring Procedure

1. Score 1 point for each sensation seeking response (as keyed in scoring guide)
2. Calculate subscale scores by summing the 10 items for each dimension (range: 0-10 per subscale)
3. Calculate total score by summing all four subscales (range: 0-40)
4. Higher scores indicate greater sensation seeking tendencies

Score Interpretation

Total Score Ranges:

Total Score	Classification	Percentile
32-40	Very High	>90th (Top 10%)
25-31	High	70th-90th
15-24	Moderate	30th-70th (Average)
8-14	Low	10th-30th
0-7	Very Low	<10th (Bottom 10%)

Subscale Interpretation

High Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS):

• Enjoys physical risks, extreme sports, adventure activities
• Drawn to speed, danger, and physically challenging experiences
• May pursue careers or hobbies involving physical risk

High Experience Seeking (ES):

• Seeks novel experiences through mind, senses, unconventional lifestyle
• Open to new ideas, people, places, and cultures
• Artistic interests and nonconforming social choices

High Disinhibition (Dis):

• Enjoys parties, social drinking, and uninhibited social behavior
• May seek variety in sexual partners
• Social risk-taking and impulsive social behaviors

High Boredom Susceptibility (BS):

• Easily bored with routine and repetitive experiences
• Restless in unchanging or predictable situations
• Need for variety and change in daily life

Profile Patterns

Selective thrill seeking: High TAS with low ES – Physical risk-taking without lifestyle unconventionality

Broad experience seeking: High ES and Dis – General openness to novel and intense experiences

Social sensation seeking: High Dis with low TAS – Social stimulation seeking without physical risk

Intellectual variety seeking: High ES and BS with low TAS and Dis – Mental stimulation without physical or social risks

Population Norms

• Young adults (18-25): M = 20-25 (varies by gender and culture)
• Adults (26-40): M = 15-20
• Older adults (40+): M = 10-15
• Gender differences: Males typically score 3-5 points higher than females (Zuckerman, 1994)

Research Evidence and Psychometric Properties

Reliability Evidence

• Internal consistency: α = 0.83-0.86 for total score demonstrating good reliability (Zuckerman et al., 1978)
• Subscale reliability: α = 0.61-0.76 across four dimensions, adequate for 10-item scales (Zuckerman, 1994)
• Test-retest reliability: r = 0.94 over 3-week interval showing excellent stability (Zuckerman et al., 1978)
• Long-term stability: r = 0.60-0.70 over 20+ years, moderate stability across adult lifespan (Zuckerman, 1994)

Validity Evidence

Factor structure:

• Four-factor model: Consistently replicated across cultures and samples (Zuckerman, 1994)
• Hierarchical structure: General sensation seeking factor with four specific dimensions (Zuckerman et al., 1978)
• Cross-cultural validity: Factor structure confirmed in 20+ countries including US, UK, Japan, Spain (Aluja et al., 2003)

Convergent validity:

• Risk-taking measures: r = 0.40-0.60 with behavioral risk assessment scales (Zuckerman, 2007)
• Big Five correlates: Negative correlation with Conscientiousness (r = -0.30 to -0.40), positive with Extraversion (r = 0.30-0.40) and Openness (r = 0.40-0.50) (Zuckerman & Kuhlman, 2000)
• Impulsivity measures: r = 0.40-0.50 with various impulsivity scales (Zuckerman, 1994)

Discriminant validity:

• Intelligence: Low correlations (r < 0.15) showing independence from cognitive ability (Zuckerman, 1994)
• Anxiety: Negative or zero correlations distinguishing from anxiety-based avoidance (Zuckerman, 2007)

Behavioral Prediction Research

Substance use:

• Alcohol use: r = 0.30-0.45 with drinking frequency, quantity, and problems (Zuckerman, 2007)
• Marijuana use: r = 0.40-0.55 with frequency of use (Roberti, 2004)
• Hard drug use: r = 0.35-0.50 with cocaine, hallucinogens, stimulants (Zuckerman, 2007)
• Smoking: Significant predictor of initiation, maintenance, and difficulty quitting (Zuckerman, 1994)

Risk behaviors:

• Dangerous driving: r = 0.25-0.40 with speeding, aggressive driving, traffic violations (Zuckerman, 2007)
• Sexual behavior: r = 0.30-0.50 with number of partners, risky sexual practices (Zuckerman, 2007)
• Extreme sports: Strong predictor of participation in skydiving, rock climbing, etc. (Roberti, 2004)
• Gambling: Positive associations with gambling frequency and problem gambling (Zuckerman, 1994)

Antisocial behavior:

• Delinquency: r = 0.30-0.45 with adolescent and adult criminal behavior (Zuckerman, 1994)
• Aggression: Moderate correlations with physical aggression and hostility (Zuckerman, 2007)
• Personality disorders: Elevated scores in antisocial and borderline personality disorders (Zuckerman, 1994)

Biological Research

Genetic studies:

• Twin studies: Approximately 60% heritability for total sensation seeking (Fulker et al., 1980)
• Genetic correlates: Associations with dopamine D4 receptor gene and other neurotransmitter system genes (Zuckerman, 2005)

Psychophysiological correlates:

• Optimal arousal: Links to stimulus intensity preferences and orienting responses (Zuckerman, 1994)
• MAO activity: Negative correlation with monoamine oxidase levels (Zuckerman, 2005)
• Hormones: Associations with testosterone and cortisol patterns (Zuckerman, 1994)
• Brain imaging: Differences in reward system activation and prefrontal function (Zuckerman, 2007)

Developmental Research

• Age effects: Peak scores in late adolescence/early twenties, steady decline with age (Zuckerman, 1994)
• Gender differences: Males score 3-5 points higher on average, largest differences on TAS and Dis (Zuckerman, 1994)
• Cross-sectional patterns: Consistent age-related decline across cultures (Zuckerman, 2007)
• Longitudinal stability: Moderate rank-order stability despite mean-level decline (Zuckerman, 1994)

Cross-Cultural Research

• Universal structure: Four-factor model replicated across diverse cultures (Aluja et al., 2003)
• Cultural variations: Mean level differences in acceptable risk expression across cultures (Zuckerman, 1994)
• Measurement invariance: Adequate equivalence across cultural groups (Aluja et al., 2003)

Usage Guidelines and Applications

Primary Research Applications

• Substance abuse research examining vulnerability factors, prevention targets, and treatment matching
• Risk behavior studies predicting driving safety, sexual behavior, and extreme sport participation
• Personality research investigating biological bases, trait correlates, and developmental patterns
• Behavioral genetics studying heritability and gene-environment interactions in risk-taking
• Cross-cultural research exploring universal and culture-specific risk-taking patterns

Applied Psychology Applications

Occupational contexts:

• Assessment for high-risk professions (pilots, firefighters, emergency responders, military special forces)
• Understanding job satisfaction in routine vs. variable work environments
• Predicting turnover in monotonous occupations

Substance abuse prevention:

• Identifying at-risk adolescents for targeted intervention programs
• Tailoring prevention messages to high vs. low sensation seekers
• Treatment planning considering individual sensation seeking levels

Health psychology:

• Understanding engagement in health risk behaviors
• Predicting compliance with medical recommendations
• Designing health promotion programs for high sensation seekers

Clinical Assessment Applications

Risk assessment:

• Component of comprehensive personality disorder evaluation
• Assessment of adolescent risk behavior patterns
• Suicide risk evaluation (particularly disinhibition subscale)

Treatment planning:

• High sensation seekers may benefit from harm reduction vs. abstinence approaches
• Matching therapeutic activities to stimulation preferences
• Addressing boredom and monotony in treatment settings

Research Design Considerations

Sample characteristics:

• Consider age effects in cross-sectional and longitudinal designs
• Account for gender differences in analyses and interpretation
• Obtain adequate sample sizes for subscale-level analyses (N >200)

Behavioral outcomes:

• SSS-V particularly predictive of actual behaviors vs. attitudes or intentions
• Consider multiple assessment points to capture developmental changes
• Validate self-report with behavioral or collateral measures when possible

Cultural context:

• Be aware of cultural variations in risk tolerance and expression
• Consider culture-specific norms when interpreting scores
• Use validated translations for non-English speaking samples

Limitations and Cautions

• Age-related decline: Natural decrease with age affects longitudinal interpretation
• Gender differences: Consistent male-female differences require gender-stratified norms
• Cultural appropriateness: Some items may not be equally relevant across cultures
• Forced-choice limitations: Binary format may not capture nuanced preferences
• Social desirability: Despite format, some underreporting of risk behavior may occur
• Not diagnostic: Measures personality trait, not psychopathology directly

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Legal and Copyright Information

Copyright and Usage Responsibility: Check that you have the proper rights and permissions to use this assessment tool in your research. This may include purchasing appropriate licenses, obtaining permissions from authors/copyright holders, or ensuring your usage falls within fair use guidelines.

The SSS-V items are available for research use with proper attribution to the original authors. The scale has been widely used in research settings for decades and is generally accessible for academic purposes.

Proper Attribution: When using or referencing this scale, cite the original development:

• Zuckerman, M., Eysenck, S. B., & Eysenck, H. J. (1978). Sensation seeking in England and America: Cross-cultural, age, and sex comparisons. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46(1), 139-149.

Additional recommended citation for theoretical background:

• Zuckerman, M. (1994). Behavioral expressions and biosocial bases of sensation seeking. New York: Cambridge University Press.

External Links and Resources

• Sensation Seeking – Wikipedia
• Risk-Taking Behavior Research
• National Institute on Drug Abuse – Risk Factors
• Society for Risk Analysis

References

Primary Development Citation:

• Zuckerman, M., Eysenck, S. B., & Eysenck, H. J. (1978). Sensation seeking in England and America: Cross-cultural, age, and sex comparisons. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46(1), 139-149.

Theoretical Foundation:

• Zuckerman, M. (1994). Behavioral expressions and biosocial bases of sensation seeking. New York: Cambridge University Press.
• Zuckerman, M. (2007). Sensation seeking and risky behavior. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Validation and Review:

• Roberti, J. W. (2004). A review of behavioral and biological correlates of sensation seeking. Journal of Research in Personality, 38(3), 256-279.
• Zuckerman, M., & Kuhlman, D. M. (2000). Personality and risk-taking: Common biosocial factors. Journal of Personality, 68(6), 999-1029.

Cross-Cultural Research:

• Aluja, A., García, Ó., & García, L. F. (2003). A comparative study of Zuckerman’s three structural models for personality through the NEO-PI-R, ZKPQ-III-R, EPQ-RS and Goldberg’s 50-bipolar adjectives. Personality and Individual Differences, 33(5), 713-725.

Genetic Research:

• Fulker, D. W., Eysenck, S. B., & Zuckerman, M. (1980). A genetic and environmental analysis of sensation seeking. Journal of Research in Personality, 14(2), 261-281.
• Zuckerman, M. (2005). Psychobiology of personality (2nd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.