SENSATION SEEKING SCALE (IN ZKA-PQ)
Directions: A number of statements are shown below
that describe some ways in which people act and think.
Please indicate for each statement how much you agree
or disagree. If you have not experienced that circum-stance, please try to describe how you would act orwhat you think about that situation. If you DisagreeStrongly write 1, If you Disagree Somewhat write 2, ifyou Agree Somewhat write 3, and if you Agree Stronglywrite 4. Be sure to indicate your agreement or disagree-ment for every statement.
1. Disagree Strongly, 2. Disagree Somewhat, 3. Agree
Somewhat, 4. Agree Strongly
1.(2) [TAS] I enjoy the sensations of speeding in a car.
2.(7) [ES} I would like to take off on a trip with no
pre-planned or definite routes or timetables.
3.(12) [Dis] I’ll try anything once.
4.(17) [BS/Imp] I prefer friends who are excitingly
unpredictable.
5.(22) [TAS] I like some physical activities that are
somewhat risky.
6.(27) [ES] I enjoy getting into new situations where
you can’t predict how things will turn out.
7.(32) [Dis] I like ‘wild’ uninhibited parties.
8.(37) [BS/Imp] I get restless if I have to stay around
home for any length of time.
9.(42) [TAS] I prefer fast-moving activities or sports.
10.(47) [ES] I would like the kind of life where one is
on the move and traveling a lot, with lots of changeand excitement.
11.(52) [Dis] I like to let myself go and do impulsive
things just for fun.
12.(57) [BS/Imp] I enjoy spending time in the familiar
surroundings of my home or apartment.
13.(62) [TAS] I would like to learn to fly an airplane.
14.(67) [[ES] I would like to travel to foreign lands
where the people are quite different from the peoplein my own country.
15.(72) [Dis] I go to parties to meet exciting and
stimulating people.
16.(77) [BS/Imp] I am polite and attentive to someone
even if I do not find their conversation interesting.
17.(82) [TAS] I think I would enjoy being a fire-fighter.
18.(87) [ES] I like people who are unusual or different
from most other people.
19.(92) [Dis] I do not try to restrain my urges to have
exciting experiences.
20.(97) [BS/Imp] I have a reserved and cautious
attitude toward life.
21.(102) [TAS] If I were in the Army I might volunteer
for exciting but dangerous duties.
22.(107) [ES] I enjoy many types of loud, intense rock
music.
23.(112) [Dis] I prefer quiet parties where one can have
good conversation.
24.(117) [BS/Imp] My thinking is usually cautious and
sensible.25.(122) [TAS] I do not like to engage in sports or
activities in which there is a significant risk of
getting hurt.
26.(127) [ES} I would not like a job involving a lot of travel.
27.(132) [Dis] I am not interested in having new
experiences just for the sake of experiencing newsensations.
28.(137) [BS/Imp] I don’t like to start a project until I
know exactly how to proceed.
29.(142) [TAS] I don’t think I would like flying in a
small airplane.
30.(147) [ES] I do not like people who behave in
uncontrolled and unconventional ways.
31.(152) [Dis] I enjoy quiet, melodic popular or classical
music.
32.(157) [BS/Imp] I tend to value and follow a rational
and moderate approach to things.
33.(162) [TAS] Given a choice I would never volunteer
for any activity that is physically risky.
34.
(167) [ES] I am comfortable with the familiarity of afixed daily routine.
35.(172) [Dis] One should not go too far in physical
intimacy until one gets to know the other person.
36.(177) [BS/Imp] I usually make up my mind through
careful reasoning.
37.(182) [TAS] I would never travel to other countries
where there is unrest and the threat of violence.
38.(187) [ES] I would prefer to travel to places where
people speak my language and have the samecustoms.
39.(192) [Dis] One of my goals in life is to experience
intense and pleasurable sensations.
40.(197) [BS/Imp] Before I get into a new situation I
like to find out what to expect from it.
Notes :
The items for the SSS are extracted from the ZKA-PQ(Aluja et al., 2010).
TAS5Thrill and Adventure Seeking; ES 5Experience
Seeking; Dis 5Disinhibition;
BS/Imp 5Boredom Susceptibility/Impulsivity.
Scoring :
Each non-reversed item is weighted 1 to 4 depend-
ing on the response. However reversed items, indi-cated by a star after the item number, are weighted inthe reverse direction, i.e. 1 54, 253, 352, 451. The
raw score for each subscale, TAS, ES, Dis, or BS/Imp,
is the sum of the 10 weighted items for that subscale.A Total SSS score is the sum of the 4 subscales, or all40 items.
TAS: items: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25*, 29*, 33*, 37*ES items: 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26*, 30*, 34*, 38*Dis items: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23*, 27*, 31*, 35*, 39BS/Imp items: 4, 8, 12*, 16*, 20*, 24*, 28*, 32*, 36*, 40*
Reproduced with permission.