Sensation seeking in opposite-sex twins: An effect of prenatal hormones?

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan M. Resnick ◽  
Irving I. Gottesman ◽  
Matthew McGue
2004 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 555-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
william h. james

some propositions on male and female sexual orientation will be considered. some of these are established; others are more speculative. the aim is to offer some notes towards a coherent, comprehensive theory of sexual orientation. 1. the distinction between butch and femme lesbians seems real rather than a social construct. 2. high levels of prenatal steroid hormones seem to be causally associated with the sexual orientation of butch lesbians. however it is not established whether the causal process operates prenatally or postnatally (or both). this is so because prenatal hormone levels are thought to correlate positively with postnatal hormone levels. and high postnatal hormone levels may facilitate homosexual behaviour as a consequence of sensation-seeking. 3. male bisexuals also are interpreted to have been exposed to high prenatal testosterone levels. but (for reasons similar to those outlined above in regard to butch lesbians) it is unclear whether these have a direct prenatal effect on the brain or whether they are precursors of high postnatal testosterone levels, which are associated with male bisexual orientation by promoting sensation-seeking behaviour. 4. postnatal learning processes seem to be causally involved in the sexual orientation of some femme lesbians and some exclusive male homosexuals. 5. some homosexual men have genes that predispose to their sexual orientation. 6. the same may apply to some lesbians, but such genes have not, as far as i know, been identified. 7. people (of both sexes) who engage in same-sex sexual behaviour may be classified simultaneously in two ways, viz (1) ‘active’ vs ‘passive’ and (2) those who do and those who do not engage (or consider engaging) in sex with members of the opposite sex. ex hypothesi, some of the ‘active’ ones initiate some of the ‘passive’ ones. the active ones are driven more by hormones and the passive ones by psychosocial factors. the active males contain a substantial proportion of self-identified bisexuals; and the active females a substantial proportion of self-identified butches. 8. these two active categories (butch lesbians and male bisexuals) share a number of endocrinological, psychological, morphological and behavioural features vis-à-vis their exclusively homosexual and heterosexual peers. methods of testing some of these ideas are presented.


Author(s):  
Christina Akre ◽  
André Berchtold ◽  
Yara Barrense-Dias ◽  
Joan-Carles Suris

AstractObjectivesThe objective of this study was to compare the characteristics of adolescents and young adults (AYA) who perceive themselves as popular with AYAs who perceive themselves as unpopular vis-á-vis peers from same-sex, opposite-sex, or both.MethodsAmong a representative sample of in-school 15–24 year-olds students (n=5,179) who completed a self-administrated questionnaire, we measured self-perception of popularity, socio-demographic data, ease to make same/opposite-sex friends, emotional well-being, school variables, substance use, sensation seeking, self-perception of pubertal timing, and aggressive/violent behavior.ResultsOverall, our findings put forth that popularity was associated to easiness of making same/opposite-sex friends, emotional well-being, socio-economical background, sensation seeking behaviors, and alcohol misuse. Differences appeared between males or females.ConclusionFindings indicate that popularity remains a very important issue among this age group and should be a red flag in clinical assessment. Future research should explore whether feeling of unpopularity can be used as a marker of adolescent well-being and hence help identify those youths who might need help.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Fen Chen ◽  
Chia-Wen Tsai ◽  
Bo-Ying Chen

Due to busy modern lifestyles, the emotional distance between people has widened. Some people are unable to broaden their social circles or meet new people of the opposite sex because of their environment or work, so they seek non-traditional methods to meet new people. One of these methods is the use of the Internet. Match making on online dating sites and getting involved in dating service have become quite popular these days. The study is conducted with online questionnaires; out of those distributed, 302 valid samples were returned. The main research method was putting the samples through stepwise linear regression analysis. By focusing on the reasons people participate in blind dating through the Internet, this study examines theories on the relatedness needs, personality characteristics, sensation-seeking motivation, and self-disclosure of those involved; and develop a framework for research to understand what type of people use dating service as a means of meeting others. Results from the study show that interpersonal needs and self-disclosure play a role in why one would want to participate in blind dating. Furthermore, there is a definite connection between the characteristics of one’s personality and the desire to participate in blind dating. The sensation seeking people are therefore more likely than others to participate in blind dating.


Author(s):  
André Beauducel ◽  
Burkhard Brocke ◽  
Alexander Strobel ◽  
Anja Strobel

Abstract: Zuckerman postulated a biopsychological multilevel theory of Sensation Seeking, which is part of a more complex multi-trait theory, the Alternative Five. The Sensation Seeking Scale Form V (SSS V) was developed for the measurement of Sensation Seeking. The process of validation of Sensation Seeking as part of a multilevel theory includes analyses of relations within and between several levels of measurement. The present study investigates validity and basic psychometric properties of a German version of the SSS V in a broader context of psychometric traits. - The 120 participants were mainly students. They completed the SSS V, the Venturesomeness- and Impulsiveness-Scales of the IVE, the BIS/BAS-Scales, the ZKPQ and the NEO-FFI. - The results reveal acceptable psychometric properties for the SSS V but with limitations with regard to factor structure. Indications for criterion validity were obtained by prediction of substance use by the subscales Dis and BS. The results of a MTMM analysis, especially the convergent validities of the SSS V were quite satisfying. On the whole, the results yielded sufficient support for the validity of the Sensation Seeking construct or the instrument respectively. They also point to desirable modifications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22
Author(s):  
Kohei Fuseda ◽  
Jun’ichi Katayama

Abstract. Interest is a positive emotion related to attention. The event-related brain potential (ERP) probe technique is a useful method to evaluate the level of interest in dynamic stimuli. However, even in the irrelevant probe technique, the probe is presented as a physical stimulus and steals the observer’s attentional resources, although no overt response is required. Therefore, the probe might become a problematic distractor, preventing deep immersion of participants. Heartbeat-evoked brain potential (HEP) is a brain activity, time-locked to a cardiac event. No probe is required to obtain HEP data. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether the HEP can be used to evaluate the level of interest. Twenty-four participants (12 males and 12 females) watched attractive and unattractive individuals of the opposite sex in interesting and uninteresting videos (7 min each), respectively. We performed two techniques each for both the interesting and the uninteresting videos: the ERP probe and the HEP techniques. In the former, somatosensory stimuli were presented as task-irrelevant probes while participants watched videos: frequent (80%) and infrequent (20%) stimuli were presented at each wrist in random order. In the latter, participants watched videos without the probe. The P2 amplitude in response to the somatosensory probe was smaller and the positive wave amplitudes of HEP were larger while watching the videos of attractive individuals than while watching the videos of unattractive ones. These results indicate that the HEP technique is a useful method to evaluate the level of interest without an external probe stimulus.


Author(s):  
Caroline Wehner ◽  
Ulrike Maaß ◽  
Marius Leckelt ◽  
Mitja D. Back ◽  
Matthias Ziegler

Abstract. The structure, correlates, and assessment of the Dark Triad are widely discussed in several fields of psychology. Based on the German version of the Short Dark Triad (SDT), we add to this by (a) providing a competitive test of existing structural models, (b) testing the nomological network, and (c) proposing an ultrashort 9-item version of the SDT (uSDT). A sample of N = 969 participants provided data on the SDT and a range of further measures. Our competitive test of five structural models revealed that fit indices and nomological network assumptions were best met in a three-factor model, with separate factors for psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism. The results provided an extensive overview of the raw, unique, and shared associations of Dark Triad dimensions with narcissism facets, sadism, impulsivity, self-esteem, sensation seeking, the Big Five, maladaptive personality traits, sociosexual orientation, and behavioral criteria. Finally, the uSDT exhibited satisfactory psychometric properties. The highest overlap in expected relations between SDT and uSDT, and convergent and discriminant measures was also found for the three-factor model. Our study underlines the utility of a three-factor model of the Dark Triad, extends findings on its nomological network, and provides an ultrashort instrument.


2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelia A. Pauls ◽  
Jan Wacker ◽  
Nicolas W. Crost

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between resting frontal hemispheric asymmetry (FHA) in the low α band (8-10.25 Hz) and the two components of socially desirable responding, i.e., self-deceptive enhancement (SDE) and impression management (IM), in an opposite-sex encounter. In addition, Big Five facets, self-reports of emotion, and spontaneous eye blink rate (BR), a noninvasive indicator of functional dopamine activity, were assessed. SDE as well as IM were related to relatively greater right-than-left activity in the low α band (i.e., relative left frontal activation; LFA) and to self-reported positive affect (PA), but only SDE was related to BR. We hypothesized that two independent types of motivational approach tendencies underlie individual differences in FHA and PA: affiliative motivation represented by IM and agentic incentive motivation represented by SDE. Whereas the relationship between SDE and PA was mediated by BR, the relationship between SDE and FHA was not.


2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Roth ◽  
Philipp Hammelstein

Based on the conception of sensation seeking as a need rather than a temperamental trait ( Hammelstein, 2004 ), we present a new assessment method, the Need Inventory of Sensation Seeking (NISS), which is considered to assess a motivational disposition. Three studies are presented: The first examined the factorial structure and the reliability of the German versions of the NISS; the second study compared the German and the English versions of the NISS; and finally, the validity of the NISS was examined in a nonclinical study and compared to the validity of conventional methods of assessing sensation seeking (Sensation Seeking Scale – Form V; SSS-V). Compared to the SSS-V, the NISS shows better reliability and validity in addition to providing new research possibilities including application in experimental areas.


2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 220-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viren Swami ◽  
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic ◽  
Manal Shafi

Previous work has shown that is important to consider the disjunction between paranormal and nonparanormal beliefs about extraterrestrial life. The current study examined the association between both such beliefs and individual difference and demographic variables. A total of 555 British participants completed the Extraterrestrial Beliefs Scale, as well as measures of their Big Five personality scores, social conformity, sensation seeking, and demographics. Results showed no sex differences in ratings of paranormal and nonparanormal extraterrestrial beliefs, but participants rated nonparanormal beliefs more positively than paranormal beliefs. Results of structural equation modeling showed that individual difference factors (specifically, Openness, Conscientiousness, and social conformity) explained 21% of the variance in extraterrestrial beliefs, whereas demographic factors (specifically, education level, political orientation, and religiosity) explained 16% of the variance. Limitations and directions for future work are considered.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 97-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smita C. Banerjee ◽  
Kathryn Greene ◽  
Marina Krcmar ◽  
Zhanna Bagdasarov ◽  
Dovile Ruginyte

This study demonstrates the significance of individual difference factors, particularly gender and sensation seeking, in predicting media choice (examined through hypothetical descriptions of films that participants anticipated they would view). This study used a 2 (Positive mood/negative mood) × 2 (High arousal/low arousal) within-subject design with 544 undergraduate students recruited from a large northeastern university in the United States. Results showed that happy films and high arousal films were preferred over sad films and low-arousal films, respectively. In terms of gender differences, female viewers reported a greater preference than male viewers for happy-mood films. Also, male viewers reported a greater preference for high-arousal films compared to female viewers, and female viewers reported a greater preference for low-arousal films compared to male viewers. Finally, high sensation seekers reported a preference for high-arousal films. Implications for research design and importance of exploring media characteristics are discussed.


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