SENSATION SEEKING AND THE TENDENCY TO VIEW THE WORLD AS THREATENING

Two experiments are reported in which negative correlations were found between sensation seeking (SS) and the tendency to view the world as threatening and the tendency to expect negative outcomes resulting from interactions with the world. Experiment 1 found a negative correlation between SS and a scale designed to measure how negatively people perceive the outcomes of their interactions with the environment (a measure we have labeled negative self-esteem). Negative correlations were also obtained between sensation seeking (particularly the Thrill and Adventure Seeking and the Experience Seeking subscales) and several measures of anxiety. The relationship between SS and the various measures of anxiety were somewhat different for males and females. Females showed a generally stronger relationship between SS and anxiety than males. Experiment 2 found negative correlations between SS and the perception of the amount of risk associated with various activities, the perception of the amount of danger associated with various activities, and the amount of fear elicited by various activities/situations. These results provide support for the idea that high sensation seekers perceive the world as less threatening and less likely to lead to negative outcomes than do low sensation seekers. © 1991.