Sensation seeking and its biological correlates

Abstract

Reviews the trait of sensation seeking and the biological phenomena associated with it: strength of the initial orienting reflex, augmenting vs reducing of the average evoked potential, MAO, and gonadal hormones (both androgen and estrogens). Both psychological and biological measures have retest reliabilities that are characteristic of stable traits. Twin studies show moderate to strong genetic control of the personality and of several biological measures. Several behavioral characteristics that are associated with the trait in humans are also related to the biological traits in animals, including sociability and social dominance, reactivity to novel situations, and play. In humans, sexual experience, interest in new situations, experiences with drugs, manic-depressive tendencies, and psychopathy are associated with both sensation seeking and its biological correlates. Age and sex differences show some parallels and some differences between sensation seeking and its biological correlates. (6 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1980 American Psychological Association.