Buzz: Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies
Author: Kenneth Carter
ISBN-13: 978-1108738101
APA Style Citation
Carter, K. (2019). Buzz: Inside the minds of thrill-seekers, daredevils, and adrenaline junkies. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108751353
Buy This Book
https://www.amazon.com/Buzz-Thrill-Seekers-Daredevils-Adrenaline-Junkies/dp/1108738109
Author: Kenneth Carter
ISBN-13: 978-1108738101
APA Style Citation
Carter, K. (2019). Buzz: Inside the minds of thrill-seekers, daredevils, and adrenaline junkies. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108751353
Buy This Book
https://www.amazon.com/Buzz-Thrill-Seekers-Daredevils-Adrenaline-Junkies/dp/1108738109
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Buzz: Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies
Author: Kenneth Carter
ISBN-13: 978-1108738101
APA Style Citation
Carter, K. (2019). Buzz: Inside the minds of thrill-seekers, daredevils, and adrenaline junkies. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108751353
Buy This Book
https://www.amazon.com/Buzz-Thrill-Seekers-Daredevils-Adrenaline-Junkies/dp/1108738109
Book Description
In Kenneth Carter’s Buzz: Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies, he explores individuals who actively seek intense, novel, and high-stimulation experiences and the personality theory of sensation-seeking. The book includes numerous case studies of high sensation-seeking individuals to illustrate how this personality trait influences behavior, from extreme sports and spontaneous travel to creative expression and career choices.
Sensation-seeking theory suggests that people differ in their need for stimulation. While some thrive on high-risk adventures, others prefer stability and predictability. Most individuals fall somewhere in between, balancing novelty with routine. The book describes the Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS) created by psychologist Marvin Zuckerman to measure this trait, in detail. The test breaks sensation seeking into four key components:
Carter connects sensation-seeking to arousal theory, which suggests that individuals are motivated to maintain an optimal stimulation level. High sensation-seekers have a greater tolerance for arousal and actively seek intense or unpredictable experiences. This trait has biological roots, with differences in dopamine regulation making excitement more rewarding. Additionally, a slower-developing prefrontal cortex in sensation-seekers can contribute to impulsivity and risk-taking.
Sensation-seeking influences how people approach travel, food, social interactions, and hobbies. While extreme sports are a common outlet for high sensation-seekers, Carter also examines how this trait manifests in less conventional ways.
Many sensation-seekers approach travel with spontaneity, favoring unpredictable experiences over structured itineraries. The book introduces a traveler the author refers to as the White Rabbit, who embodies this mindset. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, she embraces uncertainty, choosing destinations on impulse and using platforms like CouchSurfing to immerse herself in unfamiliar cultures. Rather than planning every detail, she allows chance encounters to shape her journey. Her travel style reflects experience-seeking and disinhibition, as she thrives on the excitement of new environments and the unpredictability of relying on strangers. The book discusses research that links sensation-seeking and independent, immersive travel. The book includes research by psychologists Andrew Lepp, Heather Gibson, and Helen Gilchrist that indicates high sensation-seekers prefer to travel without much preplanning or set itineraries. They value travel that leads to in-depth cultural exploration and first-hand authentic experiences. They’re more likely to travel to unfamiliar places and enjoy the excitement of navigating new environments independently. The travel preferences of high sensation seekers mainly highlight the experience seeking and disinhibition aspects of the personality trait. However, thrill and adventure-seeking may involve physically risky travel.
For some, food is more than just a necessity or pleasure. It’s an adventure. They are attracted to unexpected flavors and non-traditional foods, especially ones others might avoid. Rather than eating for routine or enjoyment, they see food as a gateway to new experiences, often embracing unfamiliar cuisines to connect with different cultures. Munir, featured in the book, seeks out rare and intimidating delicacies, from goat brains to baby octopuses, not just for the taste but for the thrill of the experience. For him, trying something new is as rewarding as the food itself. His approach exemplifies experience-seeking—finding excitement in novelty, diversity, and the unexpected. Many sensation-seekers share this mindset, whether by sampling street food in foreign countries, testing extreme spice levels, or seeking out the most unusual dish on the menu. Carter ties this behavior to the broader theme of sensation-seeking, showing how the drive for new experiences extends beyond travel and extreme sports to everyday choices. Food for these individuals is an opportunity to push boundaries, overcome hesitation, and embrace the unknown.
Carter profiles several high sensation-seekers who push their limits in extreme environments, demonstrating how this personality trait manifests differently.
Extreme adventurer Timmy O’Neill has built his life around high-risk pursuits, from climbing skyscrapers to kayaking the Grand Canyon. He has summited El Capitan multiple times and even survived a 120-foot fall while climbing in Pakistan. O’Neill describes the appeal of these experiences as facing "the crux"—a moment of intense challenge that demands resolution. For thrill-seekers like O’Neill, fear is not a deterrent but part of the experience. High sensation-seekers often report their most vivid emotional moments when navigating dangerous situations. One climber in Buzz recounted a narrow escape from a rising tide on California’s Lost Coast, while another described climbing an eroding cliff as the ground crumbled beneath him. Instead of being paralyzed by fear, they channel it into focus and adaptability.
World-record paraglider and elite ice climber Will Gadd shows the precision and control required in high-risk sports. In 2015, he became the first to ascend Niagara Falls, navigating unstable ice formations and freezing mist following a careful plan. For Gadd, adrenaline is not the goal; it’s a distraction. He believes excessive adrenaline impairs judgment and his success relies on mental discipline, focus, and strategic thinking. This demonstrates that high sensation-seekers are not necessarily reckless but highly skilled at managing risk.
High sensation-seekers, especially those who score highly on thrill and adventure seeking, look for ways to test their physical and mental limits. The drive to test their limits, face discomfort head-on, and overcome obstacles motivates them to find extreme challenges. Matt Davis, for example, discovered Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) at 40 through the Warrior Dash, initially seeing it as a fun challenge. However, this single event led him into the world of extreme endurance races like Tough Mudder and the Spartan Death Race. OCR events are more than strength and speed; they require resilience and the ability to navigate grueling obstacles such as crawling under barbed wire, plunging into ice-cold water, and enduring electrical shocks. OCR appeals to sensation-seekers who crave intensity and thrive in high-adrenaline environments. Many OCR racers say these events push them past their limits, changing how they see their strength. Despite the physical costs and risks, they keep returning for the rush of achievement and the bond they form with others—because for high sensation-seekers, the challenge is the reward.
Research by Christopher Cronin and colleagues found that individuals involved in extreme sports score significantly higher in experience-seeking and thrill-seeking than those who prefer low-risk activities. Sensation-seeking also plays a role in career choices. While high sensation-seekers often choose fields like emergency response, entrepreneurship, or entertainment, those with lower sensation-seeking tendencies are found more often in structured, predictable careers. Carter emphasizes that sensation-seeking is neither good nor bad, but understanding it helps individuals make informed choices about their activities, careers, and social interactions.
Through numerous case studies, Buzz demonstrates that sensation-seeking is more than adrenaline-fueled sports. High sensation-seekers look for novelty, excitement, and self-discovery through spontaneous travel, adventurous eating, creative risk-taking, or extreme endurance challenges. They look to move beyond routine and find unique and stimulating experiences, building their lives around curiosity, resilience, and the thrill of the unknown. This book can be easily applied to high school psychology courses, as it provides real-world applications of personality theory, motivation, and biological psychology. Buzz helps students understand how personality traits influence behavior, decision-making, and risk-taking by examining case studies of high sensation-seekers.
Other Related Resources
Author’s website
https://www.drkencarter.com/
Are You a Thrill Seeker? Kenneth Carter, PhD (about 2 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1l8_bfPSdc
Just For The Thrill Of It: An Inside Look At Sensation Seeking Kenneth Carter, PhD TEDx Emory (13 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJbbMasBSGY
Psychological Figures and Concepts
Paul Costa and Robert McCrae
Mihaly Csikszentmihaly
Charles Darwin
Angela Duckworth
Hans Eysenck
Sigmund Freud
William James
Carl Jung
Wilhelm Wundt
Adrenaline
Amygdala
Arousal Theory
Belonging
Big Five Personality Traits
Biological Perspective and Sensation-Seeking
Bystander Effect
Cortisol
Delayed Gratification
Disgust Reaction
Disinhibition
Dopamine
Emotional Intelligence
Epigenetics
Evolutionary Perspective and Sensation-Seeking
Fight or Flight Response
Flow State
Grit
Habituation
Heritability Estimates
Id
Interpersonal Intelligence
Intrapersonal Intelligence
Likert Scales
Marshmallow Test
Minnesota Study of Twins Raised Apart
Nature v. Nurture
Norepinephrine
Optimal Level Theory
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Resilience
Sensation-Seeking
Serotonin
Testosterone
Tolerance
Trauma
Vicarious Conditioning
Zuckerman’s Sensation-Seeking Scale
Author: Kenneth Carter
ISBN-13: 978-1108738101
APA Style Citation
Carter, K. (2019). Buzz: Inside the minds of thrill-seekers, daredevils, and adrenaline junkies. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108751353
Buy This Book
https://www.amazon.com/Buzz-Thrill-Seekers-Daredevils-Adrenaline-Junkies/dp/1108738109
Book Description
In Kenneth Carter’s Buzz: Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies, he explores individuals who actively seek intense, novel, and high-stimulation experiences and the personality theory of sensation-seeking. The book includes numerous case studies of high sensation-seeking individuals to illustrate how this personality trait influences behavior, from extreme sports and spontaneous travel to creative expression and career choices.
Sensation-seeking theory suggests that people differ in their need for stimulation. While some thrive on high-risk adventures, others prefer stability and predictability. Most individuals fall somewhere in between, balancing novelty with routine. The book describes the Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS) created by psychologist Marvin Zuckerman to measure this trait, in detail. The test breaks sensation seeking into four key components:
- Thrill and Adventure Seeking – Enjoy physically risky activities like extreme sports, fast driving, or amusement park rides.
- Experience Seeking – Desire for novel experiences, such as travel, trying new foods, or creative exploration.
- Disinhibition – Impulsive, uninhibited behavior, often in social settings or when breaking norms.
- Boredom Susceptibility – Low tolerance for routine and a constant need for new stimulation.
Carter connects sensation-seeking to arousal theory, which suggests that individuals are motivated to maintain an optimal stimulation level. High sensation-seekers have a greater tolerance for arousal and actively seek intense or unpredictable experiences. This trait has biological roots, with differences in dopamine regulation making excitement more rewarding. Additionally, a slower-developing prefrontal cortex in sensation-seekers can contribute to impulsivity and risk-taking.
Sensation-seeking influences how people approach travel, food, social interactions, and hobbies. While extreme sports are a common outlet for high sensation-seekers, Carter also examines how this trait manifests in less conventional ways.
Many sensation-seekers approach travel with spontaneity, favoring unpredictable experiences over structured itineraries. The book introduces a traveler the author refers to as the White Rabbit, who embodies this mindset. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, she embraces uncertainty, choosing destinations on impulse and using platforms like CouchSurfing to immerse herself in unfamiliar cultures. Rather than planning every detail, she allows chance encounters to shape her journey. Her travel style reflects experience-seeking and disinhibition, as she thrives on the excitement of new environments and the unpredictability of relying on strangers. The book discusses research that links sensation-seeking and independent, immersive travel. The book includes research by psychologists Andrew Lepp, Heather Gibson, and Helen Gilchrist that indicates high sensation-seekers prefer to travel without much preplanning or set itineraries. They value travel that leads to in-depth cultural exploration and first-hand authentic experiences. They’re more likely to travel to unfamiliar places and enjoy the excitement of navigating new environments independently. The travel preferences of high sensation seekers mainly highlight the experience seeking and disinhibition aspects of the personality trait. However, thrill and adventure-seeking may involve physically risky travel.
For some, food is more than just a necessity or pleasure. It’s an adventure. They are attracted to unexpected flavors and non-traditional foods, especially ones others might avoid. Rather than eating for routine or enjoyment, they see food as a gateway to new experiences, often embracing unfamiliar cuisines to connect with different cultures. Munir, featured in the book, seeks out rare and intimidating delicacies, from goat brains to baby octopuses, not just for the taste but for the thrill of the experience. For him, trying something new is as rewarding as the food itself. His approach exemplifies experience-seeking—finding excitement in novelty, diversity, and the unexpected. Many sensation-seekers share this mindset, whether by sampling street food in foreign countries, testing extreme spice levels, or seeking out the most unusual dish on the menu. Carter ties this behavior to the broader theme of sensation-seeking, showing how the drive for new experiences extends beyond travel and extreme sports to everyday choices. Food for these individuals is an opportunity to push boundaries, overcome hesitation, and embrace the unknown.
Carter profiles several high sensation-seekers who push their limits in extreme environments, demonstrating how this personality trait manifests differently.
Extreme adventurer Timmy O’Neill has built his life around high-risk pursuits, from climbing skyscrapers to kayaking the Grand Canyon. He has summited El Capitan multiple times and even survived a 120-foot fall while climbing in Pakistan. O’Neill describes the appeal of these experiences as facing "the crux"—a moment of intense challenge that demands resolution. For thrill-seekers like O’Neill, fear is not a deterrent but part of the experience. High sensation-seekers often report their most vivid emotional moments when navigating dangerous situations. One climber in Buzz recounted a narrow escape from a rising tide on California’s Lost Coast, while another described climbing an eroding cliff as the ground crumbled beneath him. Instead of being paralyzed by fear, they channel it into focus and adaptability.
World-record paraglider and elite ice climber Will Gadd shows the precision and control required in high-risk sports. In 2015, he became the first to ascend Niagara Falls, navigating unstable ice formations and freezing mist following a careful plan. For Gadd, adrenaline is not the goal; it’s a distraction. He believes excessive adrenaline impairs judgment and his success relies on mental discipline, focus, and strategic thinking. This demonstrates that high sensation-seekers are not necessarily reckless but highly skilled at managing risk.
High sensation-seekers, especially those who score highly on thrill and adventure seeking, look for ways to test their physical and mental limits. The drive to test their limits, face discomfort head-on, and overcome obstacles motivates them to find extreme challenges. Matt Davis, for example, discovered Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) at 40 through the Warrior Dash, initially seeing it as a fun challenge. However, this single event led him into the world of extreme endurance races like Tough Mudder and the Spartan Death Race. OCR events are more than strength and speed; they require resilience and the ability to navigate grueling obstacles such as crawling under barbed wire, plunging into ice-cold water, and enduring electrical shocks. OCR appeals to sensation-seekers who crave intensity and thrive in high-adrenaline environments. Many OCR racers say these events push them past their limits, changing how they see their strength. Despite the physical costs and risks, they keep returning for the rush of achievement and the bond they form with others—because for high sensation-seekers, the challenge is the reward.
Research by Christopher Cronin and colleagues found that individuals involved in extreme sports score significantly higher in experience-seeking and thrill-seeking than those who prefer low-risk activities. Sensation-seeking also plays a role in career choices. While high sensation-seekers often choose fields like emergency response, entrepreneurship, or entertainment, those with lower sensation-seeking tendencies are found more often in structured, predictable careers. Carter emphasizes that sensation-seeking is neither good nor bad, but understanding it helps individuals make informed choices about their activities, careers, and social interactions.
Through numerous case studies, Buzz demonstrates that sensation-seeking is more than adrenaline-fueled sports. High sensation-seekers look for novelty, excitement, and self-discovery through spontaneous travel, adventurous eating, creative risk-taking, or extreme endurance challenges. They look to move beyond routine and find unique and stimulating experiences, building their lives around curiosity, resilience, and the thrill of the unknown. This book can be easily applied to high school psychology courses, as it provides real-world applications of personality theory, motivation, and biological psychology. Buzz helps students understand how personality traits influence behavior, decision-making, and risk-taking by examining case studies of high sensation-seekers.
Other Related Resources
Author’s website
https://www.drkencarter.com/
Are You a Thrill Seeker? Kenneth Carter, PhD (about 2 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1l8_bfPSdc
Just For The Thrill Of It: An Inside Look At Sensation Seeking Kenneth Carter, PhD TEDx Emory (13 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJbbMasBSGY
Psychological Figures and Concepts
Paul Costa and Robert McCrae
Mihaly Csikszentmihaly
Charles Darwin
Angela Duckworth
Hans Eysenck
Sigmund Freud
William James
Carl Jung
Wilhelm Wundt
Adrenaline
Amygdala
Arousal Theory
Belonging
Big Five Personality Traits
Biological Perspective and Sensation-Seeking
Bystander Effect
Cortisol
Delayed Gratification
Disgust Reaction
Disinhibition
Dopamine
Emotional Intelligence
Epigenetics
Evolutionary Perspective and Sensation-Seeking
Fight or Flight Response
Flow State
Grit
Habituation
Heritability Estimates
Id
Interpersonal Intelligence
Intrapersonal Intelligence
Likert Scales
Marshmallow Test
Minnesota Study of Twins Raised Apart
Nature v. Nurture
Norepinephrine
Optimal Level Theory
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Resilience
Sensation-Seeking
Serotonin
Testosterone
Tolerance
Trauma
Vicarious Conditioning
Zuckerman’s Sensation-Seeking Scale
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