What is the Sensation Seeking Personality Scale?

• A. A scale created by Marvin Zuckerman in which higher scores are associated with increased risky behaviors.
• B. A tool to diagnose Substance Use Disorder
• C. An imaging technique to measure dopamine
• D. A personality test for goals

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the Sensation Seeking Personality Scale is a self-report questionnaire developed by Marvin Zuckerman to measure a person’s preference for novel and intense experiences. Higher scores indicate a stronger tendency to seek stimulation, which research links to greater willingness to engage in risky behaviors, including experimentation with substances. It’s not a tool for diagnosing Substance Use Disorder, not an imaging technique to measure dopamine, and not a test about goals. The scale specifically quantifies how much a person seeks excitement and novelty.