DEMOS & CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES--PERSONALITY

I. Topic: Sensation Seeking Personality

II. Purpose: To give students an opportunity to assess themselves on an interesting dimension of personality--sensation seeking and to learn a bit more about how psychologists seek to measure personality characteristics

III. Description: Handout

This handout contains a 13-item survey and an explanation for scoring it.

IV. Procedure:

1 Ask students to complete the handout given below and to self-score it using the accompanying key.

2. Discuss with your class what sensation seeking is, some of its characteristics, and how instruments such as the one below attempt to tap into this dimension of personality.

Instructions: Circle A or B for each item, depending on which best describes you. When finished, score yourself using the scoring key given at the bottom of the page.

1a. I would like a job that requires a lot of traveling.
1b. I would prefer a job in one location.

2a. I am invigorated by a brisk, cold day.
2b. I can't wait to get inside on a cold day.

3a. I get bored seeing the same old faces.
3b. I like the comfortable familiarity of everyday friends.

4a. I would prefer living in an ideal society in which everyone is safe, secure, and happy.
4b. I would have preferred living in the unsettled days of our history.

5a. I sometimes like to do things that are a little bit frightening.
5b. A sensible person avoids activities that are dangerous.

6a. I would not like to be hypnotized.
6b. I would like to have the experience of being hypnotized.

7a. The most important goal in life is to live it to the fullest and experience as much as possible.
7b. The most important goal in life is to find peace and hapiness.

8a. I would like to try parachute-jumping.
8b. I would not like to try jumping out of an airplane, with or without a parachute.

9a. I enter cold water gradually, giving myself time to get used to it.
9b. I like to dive or jump right into the ocean or a cold pool.

10a. When I go on vacation, I prefer the comfort of a good room and bed.
10b. When I go on vacation, I prefer the change of camping out.

11a. I prefer people who are emotionally expressive even if they are a bit unstable.
11b. I prefer people who are calm and even-tempered.

12a. A good painting should shock or jolt the senses.
12b. A good painting should give one a feeling of peace and security.

13a. People who ride motorcycles must have some kind of unconscious need to hurt themselves.
13b. I would like to drive or ride a motorcycle.


Scoring Key:

Give yourself 1 point for each of these that you have circled:
1a, 2a, 3a, 4b, 5a, 6b, 7a, 8a, 9b, 10b, 11a, 12a, 13b.
Sum your score

Compare your score with the norms for this test:

0-3 points Very low in sensation seeking
4-5 Low
6-9 Average
10-11 High
12-13 Very high in sensation seeking