"Ken Carter, a psychologist at Oxford College of Emory University, says everyone has a different level of sensation-seeking. Low and average sensation-seekers may experience high cortisol production during thrilling activities, while high sensation-seekers tend to produce more dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure."
"For low and average sensation-seekers, thrilling activities like self-run fireworks displays can trigger significant cortisol production. In contrast, high sensation-seekers experience lower cortisol levels but increased dopamine release, enhancing their enjoyment of chaotic experiences."
Sensation-seeking is influenced by brain chemistry, resulting in different responses to activities like setting off fireworks. Low and average sensation-seekers have higher cortisol responses to thrilling events, leading to stress. In contrast, high sensation-seekers experience less cortisol but produce more dopamine, enhancing their enjoyment. Ken Carter has created a 40-point self-assessment survey to determine levels of sensation-seeking, which is included in his book, Buzz. Factors leading to individual perceptions of thrill or chill during fireworks are explored in relation to people's differing psychological profiles.
Read at www.npr.org
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