Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
13:04
Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
Published on: September 19, 2012
Great expectations: different high-risk activities satisfy different motives.
Matthew Barlow1, Tim Woodman, Lew Hardy
1Institute for Psychology of Elite Performance, Bangor University, Holyhead Road, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG, United Kingdom. t.woodman@bangor.ac.uk
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|June 26, 2013
Summary
High-risk activities like skydiving and mountaineering are driven by different motives. New research introduces the Sensation Seeking, Emotion Regulation, and Agency Scale (SEAS) to differentiate these motivations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Traditional research views high-risk behavior motives solely through sensation seeking.
- This perspective overlooks other significant motivational factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To challenge the singular focus on sensation seeking for high-risk activity motives.
- To develop and validate a multi-factor scale measuring diverse motives.
- To differentiate motives for specific high-risk activities like skydiving and mountaineering.
Main Methods:
- Development and validation of the Sensation Seeking, Emotion Regulation, and Agency Scale (SEAS).
- Application of the SEAS to compare motives of skydivers and mountaineers.
- Analysis of existing personality and sensation-seeking measures.
- Examination of expectations related to emotion regulation and agency.
Main Results:
- The SEAS reliably measures three distinct motives: sensation seeking, emotion regulation, and agency.
- Skydiving motives correlate with sensation seeking.
- Mountaineering motives correlate with emotion regulation and agency, not sensation seeking.
- Existing measures fail to capture these distinctions.
- Individuals motivated by emotion regulation and agency have higher expectations in these domains, differentiating them from skydivers and controls.
Conclusions:
- Risk-takers are not a homogenous sensation-seeking group.
- Risk-taking can be a model for diverse human endeavors.
- The SEAS is a valuable tool for measuring motives related to sensation seeking, agency, and emotion regulation.
- Future research should explore specific spontaneous behaviors driving diverse motivations.
Related Concept Videos
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
01:27Secondary Motives: Power Motivation and Achievement Motivation
Power motivation and achievement motivation are two essential social motives identified by psychologist David McClelland. These motives influence behavior in various personal and professional contexts, shaping how individuals interact with others and pursue their goals.
Power motivation is characterized by the desire to influence, control, or have an impact on others. It is shaped by an individual's experiences, social environment, and cultural context. People with high power motivation are...
Power motivation is characterized by the desire to influence, control, or have an impact on others. It is shaped by an individual's experiences, social environment, and cultural context. People with high power motivation are...
01:23Optimal Arousal Theory
The optimal arousal theory suggests that performance is maximized when an individual experiences a moderate level of arousal. This theory is closely tied to the Yerkes-Dodson law, which illustrates an inverted U-shaped relationship between arousal and performance. The law, formulated by psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dodson, implies an ideal arousal level for optimal performance, and deviations from this level can lead to declines in effectiveness.
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...
01:25Motivational Bias
Cognitive bias results from limitations in thinking and information processing, leading to systematic errors in judgment. Conversely, motivational bias stems from personal desires or emotions, causing distortions in perception to align with self-interest. Motivational bias influences how individuals perceive and attribute causes to events, often shaped by personal needs, goals, and self-esteem preservation. This bias can distort judgment, leading to inaccurate assessments of success, failure,...
01:18Incentive Theory: Pull Theory of Motivation
Incentive theory, or the "pull theory" of motivation, suggests that external rewards primarily drive behavior. Individuals are motivated to engage in activities when they anticipate a desirable outcome. This is why people often work hard for promotions or study intensively to achieve high grades. These incentives can be tangible, physical rewards such as money or promotions, or intangible, non-physical rewards like praise and social recognition.
The theory differentiates between intrinsic and...
The theory differentiates between intrinsic and...
01:22Purposive Learning
E. C. Tolman emphasized the purposiveness of behavior — the idea that much of our behavior is goal-directed. For instance, employees who aim for a promotion work diligently to meet their targets. Tolman argued that when classical conditioning and operant conditioning occur, the organism acquires certain expectations. In classical conditioning, a child might fear a dog because they expect it to bite. In operant conditioning, a person might consistently work overtime because they expect a bonus...