Sensation seeking and risky behavior

Unknown author(s)

Choice Reviews Online · 2007 · 607 citations · 500 references

Concepts

TL;DR

Risky behavior is a manifestation of the genetically influenced personality trait of sensation seeking, encompassing activities such as extreme sports, substance use, unsafe sex, and crime. The book explains how sensation seeking relates to these behaviors through genetics, biology, attitudes, and expectancies, and offers research‑based prevention and treatment insights for maladaptive forms such as substance abuse and unsafe sex.

Abstract

Risky behavior can be an expression of a normal, genetically influenced personality trait, sensation seeking. Its expression in risky behaviors such as extreme and risky sports, vocations, substance abuse, unsafe sex, and crime, among others, is the topic of this fascinating and accessible book. In Sensation Seeking and Risky Behavior, Marvin Zuckerman offers a comprehensive view of the role of sensation seeking in a wide range of behaviors, from risky driving and sports through substance use, sex, and crime or other antisocial behaviors. How the personality trait sensation seeking relates to these risky behaviors is described and explained in terms of genetics, biology, attitudes, and expectancies. Insights into prevention and treatment of maladaptive forms of sensation seeking, like substance abuse and unsaf sexual activity, based on the published research, are offered.

References

500