Characteristics and social representation of ecstasy in Europe - Irefrea
Characteristics and social representation of ecstasy in Europe - Irefrea
Characteristics and social representation of ecstasy in Europe - Irefrea
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6. SENSATION SEEKING SCALE (SSS)6.1. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS. THEORETICAL FUNDAMENTALSThe Sensation Seek<strong>in</strong>g Scale was created <strong>in</strong> order to quantify the concept “optimumstimulation level”, proposed by Hebb <strong>and</strong> Thomson (“The <strong>social</strong> significance <strong>of</strong> animalstudies”. In G. L<strong>in</strong>dzey, De. H<strong>and</strong>book <strong>of</strong> <strong>social</strong> psychology. Cambridge. Mass:Addison-Wesley, 1954, p. 551-552) among others. These authors propounded thetheory that little stimulation leads the organism to an <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>of</strong> stimulation, while toomuch stimulation leads to a conduct that decreases stimulation. This idea implies each<strong>in</strong>dividual has his/her optimum stimulation level.Zuckerman “has proposed the Sensory Deprivation Theory, based on the optimumstimulation level. The Sensation Seek<strong>in</strong>g Scale was developed <strong>in</strong> order to dist<strong>in</strong>guish<strong>in</strong>dividual differences <strong>in</strong> optimum stimulation level. It was postulated that the need <strong>of</strong>change, variation <strong>and</strong> stimulation <strong>in</strong>tensity should appear <strong>in</strong> different behaviourcharacteristics, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g seek<strong>in</strong>g adventures, <strong>social</strong> activities, etc”. (Lyttle <strong>and</strong>Montagne, 1992). Zuckerman created the first scale, at the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the sixties, withKol<strong>in</strong>, Price <strong>and</strong> Zoob. Nowadays, the most popular is the V version (Zuckerman,Eysenk <strong>and</strong> Eysenk, 1978). It <strong>in</strong>cludes four subscales.Version V was made because it was necessary to have a reduced version <strong>of</strong> the SSS(Sensation Seek<strong>in</strong>g Scale). Start<strong>in</strong>g with four factors, 10 items were selected for each<strong>of</strong> them (that would constitute the four scales). They should have a significantimportance <strong>in</strong> the same factor <strong>in</strong> every sample <strong>and</strong> coefficients superior to a magnitude<strong>of</strong> 0.30. These scales would have the highest values for the cultural comparisons(O’Rourke, 1985). Total amount could be obta<strong>in</strong>ed add<strong>in</strong>g the four scales results.The names <strong>and</strong> contents <strong>of</strong> the four subscales with 10 items each <strong>in</strong> the SSS versionV are:1. Thrill <strong>and</strong> adventure seeker (TAS): it expresses the wish to <strong>in</strong>volve oneself <strong>in</strong>activities connected with risk, that provide unusual sensations.2. Experience seek<strong>in</strong>g (ES): it implies a need to change <strong>in</strong>terior experiences whichcan be obta<strong>in</strong>ed through travell<strong>in</strong>g, drugs, music, art <strong>and</strong> a not conventional way<strong>of</strong> life. Some resistance to authority <strong>and</strong> irrational conformity.75
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