1. Chapter 18 (LeUnes): High-Risk Sports Sport Psych Oct 26-28, 2009 Classes #25-26

2. Extreme Sports  Extreme sports is a media term for certain activities perceived as having a high level of inherent danger  These activities often involve speed, height, high level of physical exertion, highly specialized gear or spectacular stunts  At present date, there are no academic research studies or statistics of deaths to separate activities with low or normal level of danger from those with high level of danger  It is instead used as a marketing term in promoting events such as the X Games

3. Characteristics of Extreme Sports  Tend to have a younger-than- average target demographic  Extreme sports are rarely sanctioned by schools  Extreme sports tend to be more solitary than traditional sports  Beginning extreme athletes tend to work on their craft without the guidance of a coach Some may hire a coach later

4. Sensation Seeking  Marvin Zuckerman Defined “sensation seeking” as "a trait describing the tendency to seek novel, varied, complex, and intense sensations and experiences and the willingness to take risks for the sake of the experience" (1971) These people want to avoid boredom at all costs

5. Zuckerman (1984)  Skydivers are characterized with both higher sensation seeking ambitions and a search for thrilling experiences, than most other partakers of other risky activities  It is claimed that high sensation seekers believe risks to be not as great as do low sensation seekers  The sensations are also valued less by the low sensation seeker  An earlier view of psychologists in the late fifties was that skydivers had an inherent death wish

6. Sensation Seeking Scales Four Scales  Thrill & Adventure Seeking TAS)  Experience Seeking (ES)  Disinhibition (DIS)  Boredom Susceptibility (BS)

7. Thrill & Adventure Seeking (TA) A desire to engage in activities involving elements of speed or danger

8. This adventure-seeker apparently was not arrested...

9. Experience Seeking  Associating with unusual people  A liking of arousing music and art  The use of alcohol and drugs  Exhibitionism

10. Disinhibition Expresses a hedonistic philosophy; heavy “social drinking”, variety in sexual partners, wild parties and gambling.

11. Boredom Susceptibility A dislike of repetition, routine work, predictable, dull or boring people. A preference for exciting people and variety; a restlessness when things are unchanging.

12. Age and Sex Differences  Men generally score higher than women on the total score and on all the subscales except Experience Seeking  Scores increase during childhood, peak in the late teens or early twenties, and thereafter decrease steadily with age.

13. Early Sensation Seeking Identified in children as young as 2 years of age Identified in children as young as 2 years of age quicker to reach for and react to new toys and sounds quicker to reach for and react to new toys and sounds chose more intense toys chose more intense toys more likely to explore more likely to explore more likely to take physical risks more likely to take physical risks

14. Total Sensation Seeking This OR THIS?

15. Evolutionary Perspective High Sensation Seeking High Sensation Seeking Access to new potential food sources and mates Access to new potential food sources and mates Exploration & hunting behavior Exploration & hunting behavior Increased danger Increased danger Low Sensation Seeking Low Sensation Seeking Safety of familiar terrain, foods, & animal population Safety of familiar terrain, foods, & animal population Exhaustion of food supply and reduction of reproductive variety Exhaustion of food supply and reduction of reproductive variety Increased safety Increased safety

16. High vs Low on the SSS High SS High SS Seek Thrills Seek Thrills Disorderly Disorderly Unpredictable Unpredictable Intolerant of structure Intolerant of structure Spend on impulse Spend on impulse Varied interests Varied interests Easily bored Easily bored High energy High energy Leader Leader Decisions based on intuition Decisions based on intuition Low SS Seek Predictability Orderly Cautious Enjoy simple pleasures Reliable, dependable Easily entertained Prefer routine More reserved Calm Frugal Decisions based on values

17. Risky Behavior High SS have more accidents when driving High SS have more accidents when driving Sensation seeking has been shown to correlate highly with accident involvement especially when paired with aggressiveness Sensation seeking has been shown to correlate highly with accident involvement especially when paired with aggressiveness Positive correlation between SS and driving Speed Positive correlation between SS and driving Speed Gambling & other financial risks Gambling & other financial risks Promiscuity Promiscuity

18. Risky Behaviors - Drugs and Alcohol High sensation-seeking teens are about three times more likely than low sensation-seeking teens to experiment with illicit drugs. High sensation-seeking teens are about three times more likely than low sensation-seeking teens to experiment with illicit drugs. Sensation Seekers tendency to try out new things first extends to sex, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana and other drugs — they often like the novelty of feeling drunk or high. Sensation Seekers tendency to try out new things first extends to sex, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana and other drugs — they often like the novelty of feeling drunk or high.

19. Relationships People with similar scores on the Sensation Seeking Scale tend to be more romantically compatible with each other. People with similar scores on the Sensation Seeking Scale tend to be more romantically compatible with each other. High SS Seekers tend to see love as a game without strong commitment High SS Seekers tend to see love as a game without strong commitment Low SS consider the long-term potential of partners rather than just their current arousal value Low SS consider the long-term potential of partners rather than just their current arousal value

20. Relationships The best combination is two people low in sensation seeking. They're happy with each other and don't become habituated to each other, The best combination is two people low in sensation seeking. They're happy with each other and don't become habituated to each other, Two high sensation seekers are OK for a while, but even though their partner might be exciting, they are looking for variety everywhere. Two high sensation seekers are OK for a while, but even though their partner might be exciting, they are looking for variety everywhere. The worst combination is high-low, because they just don't understand each other's interests. The worst combination is high-low, because they just don't understand each other's interests.

21. Relationships Over all, high SS exhibit less relationship satisfaction than low SS and are more likely to divorce Over all, high SS exhibit less relationship satisfaction than low SS and are more likely to divorce Divorced males score higher in SS than single and married males, and divorced and single females score higher than married females. Divorced males score higher in SS than single and married males, and divorced and single females score higher than married females. Psychology Today, Sep/Oct. 2004 Psychology Today, Sep/Oct. 2004

22. Is there a connection between sensation seekers and psychopaths?  Impulsive Unsocialized Sensation Seeking Zuckerman feels that those very high on sensation seeking may lack the capacity to inhibit behavior that might be detrimental to society Trouble inhibiting impulsive action Thrills at all costs regardless of the consequences to others High sensation seekers are less tolerant of sensory deprivation and they require much stimulation to get to optimal level of arousal

23. Mountaineering/Rock Climbing  Robinson (1985) Rock-climbers score high  Levenson (1990) Rock-climbers scored higher than drug offenders  Rossi and Cereatti (1993) Mountain athletes score higher than controls except on BS

24. Scuba Diving Deaths  Insufficient Gas: 14%  Rough Seas/Strong Current: 10%  Natural Disease: 9%  Entrapment: 9%  Equipment Problems: 8%  Could Not be Determined: 20%

25. European Hang Gliding & Paragliding Union Hang Gliders weigh 20 to 40 kg. Flexible wings are steered by pilot weight shift.

26. European Hang Gliding & Paragliding Union Rigid wings have in addition steering flaps. Max speed up to 120 km/h, glide ratio up to 1 : 16.

27. European Hang Gliding & Paragliding Union Paraglider are steered by brake lines. Max speed up to 60 km/h, glide ratio up to 1:8.

28. European Hang Gliding & Paragliding Union Hang Glider and Paraglider Pilots take off by running down mountain slopes or by winch towing. For Hang Gliding aero towing by UL is possible.

29. Skydiving/Sport Parachuting  USPA (2006) About 30 fatalities per year  Westman and Bjornstig (2005) Student skydivers at highest risk

30. See You In The Sky  Slide out of the plane at 9,000 feet.  Pull Rip Cord at 4,500 feet  There is a gauge on wrist that shows your altitude.  6-7 minutes in air doing 720’s by steering with cords on side of parachute in each hand to steer.

31. Credits  Some of the slides in this presentation prepared with the assistance of the following web sites: http://www.austincollege.edu/Attachments/SensationSeeki ng.ppt#287,4,Definition http://www.austincollege.edu/Attachments/SensationSeeki ng.ppt#287,4,Definition http://www.emf.nanco.no/new/HangParagliding%20prese ntation.ppt#259,5,Slide 5 http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/mphilo/skydiving.ppt#262,7,S ee You In The Sky