The Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) is a forty-item questionnaire. The SSS has four primary scales (Disinhibition, Boredom Susceptibility, Thrill and Adventure Seeking, Experience Seeking) and one total score.
ITEM CODING
The SSS consists of 40 items, each having two options from which the participant must choose one.
SCALES
The SSS yields 4 primary scales and one total score. Description of the scales and item loadings are listed below. Scale scores are calculated as the sum of respective items. Bold items are reverse scored.
| SCALE NAME (ABBR.) | SCALE DESCRIPTION | ITEM LOADINGS |
|---|---|---|
| Disinhibition (SSS_DIS) | This scale represents the desire for social and sexual disinhibition as expressed in social drinking, partying, and variety in sexual partners. |
1, 12, 13, 25, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35, 36 |
| Boredom Susceptibility (SSS_BOR) | This scale represents an aversion to repetition, routine, and dull people, and restlessness when things are unchanging. |
2, 5, 7, 8, 15, 24, 27, 31, 34, 39 |
| Thrill and Adventure Seeking (SSS_THR) | This scale contains items expressing a desire to engage in sports or other activities involving speed or danger. |
3, 11, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 28, 38, 40 |
| Experience Seeking (SSS_EXP) | This scale represents the seeking of experiences through the mind and senses, travel, and a nonconforming life-style. |
4, 6, 9, 10, 14, 18, 19, 22, 26, 37 |
| Total Score (SSS_TOT) | Total Score | 1-40 |
RESOURCE FILES
REFERENCES
Zuckerman, Marvin, Kolin, Elizabeth A., Price, Leah, & Zoob, Ina. (1964). Development of a sensation-seeking scale. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 28(6), 477-482.
Zuckerman, Marvin. (1978). Sensation seeking in England and America: Cross-cultural, age, and sex comparisons. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46(1), 139-49.
We do not have copyright authority over these measures and cannot grant permission for use.
Questionnaires and other measures are provided here solely as a courtesy to accompany our scoring code. Please contact the author of the questionnaire for use permissions.
Use of scoring code is granted under CC BY-SA 4.0 permissions.