Skydiving, climbing mountains, traveling to uninhabitable parts of the world, taking selfies in high and dangerous environments… Do you identify with any of these activities? If so, you are most likely a thrill seeker. This is the type of behavior where you crave the intense rush of adrenaline and dopamine that comes from risky experiences.
Enjoying situations that others perceive as threatening has the advantage of better stress management. But if you meet these characteristics, it is likely that you are anxious in a certain way… Is there anything wrong with always looking for situations that trigger intense emotions?
- Causes and solutions for visual impairment after 40 years of age?
- Covid alert in the US: Mask mandatory
There is actually a certain negative component to it, but there are also quite positive aspects. In the following article we will give you all the information you need to know.
Signs that you are a thrill seeker
If you’ve never heard this psychological term before, we’ll tell you that it’s more common than you think. If you perceive yourself as a thrill seeker, what you desire is to engage in new or challenging experiences so that your brain rewards you. These boosters consist of higher doses of neurochemicals such as endorphins, dopamine and adrenaline.
The person who has done the most research on this phenomenon is psychologist Marvin Zuckerman, professor emeritus at the University of Delaware. His book Thrill Seeking and Risky Behavior (2007) is the best reference in this field.
One interesting thing that stands out from this psychologist’s work is that it shows that this phenomenon corresponds to a very useful motivated behavior that allows us to progress as a species. You may also have been able to overcome many obstacles thanks to this behavior. Below we will explain its main characteristics.
1. You are an adventure seeker
Who doesn’t like adventures? The truth is that not all people enjoy challenging experiences that take them out of their comfort zone. But if there is one aspect that excites, motivates and makes thrill-seekers feel alive, it is taking risks in new environments where everything is unpredictable.
It is interesting to know that an instrument assessing this behavior has been published in the journal Behavioral Sciences. We therefore have the “Adventure Behavior Seeking Scale (ABSS)” for this purpose. Thanks to this tool, it was observed that those who presented this profile longed to feel new sensations in the outdoors. This could be your case.
2. Routine and boredom make you desperate
If you are someone who needs high levels of stimulation to feel good about yourself, boredom is your worst enemy. Routines and days of having to perform the same tasks and not seeing any stimulation or challenge on the horizon are what make you feel desperate.
At the same time, these contexts of monotony and lack of stimuli can damage your mental state. A study published by Motivation and Emotion highlights that this experience can lead to frustration and symptoms of depression. This explains why, when you feel yourself sinking into boredom, you immediately try to start an exciting activity.
3. You are a seeker of new experiences
If you are a thrill seeker, there is one trait that can define you: Openness to experience. This trait is very positive because it describes behavior that allows you to connect with your environment and learn from it. You like to explore, talk to people and absorb new sensations, perspectives and information.
A study described in Psychological Reports reported something interesting about this. This type of behavior is associated with an outgoing personality, who often feels a sense of curiosity. All this combination of positive variables translates into a greater sense of subjective well-being.
Therefore, if you identify with this profile you are likely to experience the following:
- You love meeting new people.
- Changes do not frighten you; you are always guided by the instinct of curiosity.
- You often perceive reality like a child who is fascinated by the simplest things that not everyone can see.
- You try to do different things as much as possible, like sports, traveling, learning new things.
4. You engage in risky behavior
In your quest to experience powerful emotions, you may have made more than one lapse of judgment. But nevertheless, the sense of satisfaction you got from taking that risk was amazing. True, one of the characteristics of this behavior pattern is to take on challenges and put yourself in dangerous situations from time to time.
Such patterns of behavior have always been of interest to science. In fact, you will be interested to know that people who engage in extreme sports are a clear example of thrill-seekers. So much so that they are described as “adrenaline junkies” in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions.
Below, we will explain in detail which risk behaviors are common in this profile:
- Trying drugs
- Driving too fast
- Doing extreme sports
- Engaging in risky sexual behavior
- Exposing yourself to physical danger just to know what it feels like
5. The need for constant stimulation
A thrill seeker does not only desire adventure, to experience new challenges and risks. If there is one aspect that characterizes this profile, it is the constant need to feel psychophysiological stimulation. This is a specific trait that you can recognize through the following behaviors:
- You need constant social contact.
- You listen to music whenever you can.
- You lead an active life and love sports, dancing and walking, among others.
- You may find it difficult to be still and use classic anti-stress objects.
- You enjoy the stimulation of perfumes or nature scents.
- You like ASMR videos because of the stimulating sensation they produce in your brain.
6. The joy of self-discovery
Self-discovery is about the pleasure of realizing certain realities and acquiring new knowledge. This virtue is also attributed to those who wish to experience intense feelings.
Constantly facing challenges and experiencing adventures makes you know yourself better and realize the beauty of the world. Some of the benefits include:
- When you take risks you discover where your limits are.
- This risky but courageous behavior is what allows you to know your strengths.
- Your curious outlook has led you to discover people and places that enrich you as a human being.
7. You are a resilient person
This information will be of interest to you. If you pursue intense experiences, one of your skills is to manage stress effectively. Fear doesn’t hold you back, challenges don’t stop you and uncertainty doesn’t hold you back, it motivates you even more. This extremely useful psychological competence is directly linked to resilience.
As highlighted in a study published by BMC Nursing, resilient people are able to bounce back after any stressful scenario and experience. This is undoubtedly an advantage in your favor.
The importance of finding balance
As you will certainly understand when you read this article, this behavioral profile has many advantages. If you identify with the above traits, you know the pleasure of taking risks, going on adventures and exposing yourself to new situations. All this not only gives you big but short-term doses of adrenaline and endorphins. It also makes you grow as a human being.
But in every situation it is best to maintain an adequate balance between risk and self-protection. Always look for safe situations where you can feel the tickle of euphoria or the burst of dopamine. Sometimes something as simple as meeting a different person can be more exciting than climbing Mount Everest.
The content of fikrikadim is for informational and educational purposes only. They are not a substitute for diagnosis, advice or treatment by a professional. If you have any doubts or concerns, it is best to consult a trusted professional.
Sources
- Dong, R., & Ni, S. G. (2020). Openness to experience, extraversion, and subjective well-being among Chinese college students: The mediating role of dispositional awe. Psychological Reports, 123(3), 903–928. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30741089/
- Heirene, R. M., Shearer, D., Roderique-Davies, G., & Mellalieu, S. D. (2016). Addiction in extreme sports: An exploration of withdrawal states in rock climbers. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 5(2), 332–341. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5387785/
- Klainin-Yobas, P., Vongsirimas, N., Ramirez, D. Q., Sarmiento, J., & Fernandez, Z. (2021). Evaluating the relationships among stress, resilience and psychological well-being among young adults: a structural equation modelling approach. BMC Nursing, 20(1), 119. https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-021-00645-9
- Próchniak, P. (2017). Adventure Behavior Seeking Scale. Behavioral Sciences, 7(2), 35. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5485465/
- van Hooft, E. A. J., & van Hooff, M. L. M. (2018). The state of boredom: Frustrating or depressing? Motivation and Emotion, 42(6), 931–946. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6208645/
- Zuckerman, M. (2007). Sensation seeking (psychology revivals): Beyond the optimal level of arousal. Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315755496/sensation-seeking-psychology-revivals-marvin-zuckerman
