Risk evaluation and risky behavior of high and low sensation seekers

This study was aimed at achieving a better understanding of the role of the mediation of risk evaluation between personality and risk-taking behavior. Fifty-five females and twenty males completed the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) and self-report inventory of risk taking in one session and a risk evaluation inventory in another session. The results show a positive correlation between risk taking and sensation seeking and a negative correlation between risk evaluation and sensation seeking. High sensation seekers are found to be higher in risk taking than in risk evaluation while the low sensation seekers are higher in risk evaluation than in risk taking. The meaning and possible implications of these results to the relationship between risk taking and sensation seeking are discussed.