Query: BDSM AND "Sensation seeking"

title: The Psychology of Kink: A Cross Sectional Survey Study Investigating the Roles of Sensation Seeking and Coping Style in BDSM Related Interests
abstract: Despite the gaining popularity in mainstream media of the phenomenon that is BDSM, empirical research on the motives and underlying psychological mechanisms driving BDSM practitioners is scarce. The current study focused on the potential driving roles of sensation seeking and coping styles in BDSM related interests and behavior. A cross sectional survey questionnaire was completed by 256 Dutch speaking BDSM practitioners (110 men, 135 women, 7 gender fluid, 2 genderless, 1 other not specified) 1 missing (this participant did not answer the question regarding gender, but did answer all other survey items) and a matched control group lacking any BDSM interest recruited from the general Belgian population N 300; 135 men, 158 women, 4 gender fluid, 3 genderless) The questionnaire consisted of several items surveying different BDSM identities and interest levels of BDSM related activities, an adapted version of the Dutch Sensation Seeking Scale, and items querying seven coping styles. Compared to controls, BDSM practitioners reported significantly higher levels of sensation seeking for all dimensions (experience seeking, thrill seeking, and distraction seeking) as well as the use of more active coping skills such as problem solving and taking action. Gender differentiated which specific coping skills were being used with women seeking out more emotional support and comfort and reaching out more for help and advice in both the BDSM and control group, and men taking more action and seeking distraction in leisure. About 40% of the practitioners reported using BDSM itself as a coping strategy. Further research is needed to explore the link between coping and sexuality in general, and to other psychological processes that drive BDSM interests in order to destigmatize and normalize consensual BDSM related activities within the general population.

title: Psychological and Demographic Differences of BDSM Practitioners
abstract: The purpose of this study was to gain more information about demographic and psychological differences between the bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, sadism/masochism (BDSM) population and the general population. BDSM has become more prominent in the knowledge of the general population with the notoriety of E.L. James' book series 50 Shades of Grey, but even with the new prominence of BDSM in American households, there is a lack of knowledge about BDSM practitioners among psychotherapists. In this study, data was gathered from a sample of BDSM practitioners and a general population sample on a variety of demographic and psychological variables. Independent samples t tests showed that there were significant differences between the BDSM population and general population in physical anxiety, depression, reassurance seeking, sexual skill, lack of sexual empathy, and sensation seeking, impulsivity, and risk taking, but no significant differences in social interaction anxiety, sexual exploitation, or sexual entitlement. With this new research, some important foundational information about the BDSM population has been gained and can be used as a stepping stone to guide further research, which can provide more information to mental healthcare providers.

title: Extreme rituals in a BDSM context: the physiological and psychological effects of the 'Dance of Souls'
abstract: Participation in extreme rituals (e.g. fire walking, body piercing) has been documented throughout history. Motivations for such physically intense activities include religious devotion, sensation seeking and social bonding. The present study aims to explore an extreme ritual within the context of bondage/discipline, dominance/submission and sadism/masochism (BDSM) the 'Dance of Souls' a 160 person ritual involving temporary piercings with weights or hooks attached and dancing to music provided by drummers. Through hormonal assays, behavioural observations and questionnaires administered before, during and after the Dance, we examine the physiological and psychological effects of the Dance, and the themes of spirituality, connectedness, transformation, release and community reported by dancers. From before to during the Dance, participants showed increases in physiological stress (measured by the hormone cortisol) self reported sexual arousal, self other overlap and decreases in psychological stress and negative affect. Results suggest that this group of BDSM practitioners engage in the Dance for a variety of reasons, including experiencing spirituality, deepening interpersonal connections, reducing stress and achieving altered states of consciousness.

title: The Psychology of Gay Men's Cuckolding Fantasies
abstract: Cuckolding (also known as troilism) is a sexual interest in which one obtains sexual arousal from the experience of a romantic partner engaging in sexual activity with someone else. The present study investigated fantasies about and experiences with cuckolding in a large and diverse sample of predominately gay identified men (N 580) Compared to previous research focusing on heterosexual men's cuckolding fantasies, our results indicate that gay men's cuckolding fantasies share many common elements; however, they differ in some important ways. Most notably, interracial and BDSM themes do not appear to be as common in gay men's cuckolding fantasies as they are among heterosexual men. Our findings also indicate that frequent fantasies about cuckolding are linked to several overlapping sexual interests (e.g. voyeurism, group sex) and, further, the content of these fantasies is associated with a number of individual differences (e.g. agreeableness, sensation seeking, sociosexuality) Finally, this study also suggests that gay men who act on their cuckolding fantasies tend to report positive experiences; however, the likelihood of reporting positive outcomes appears to depend upon one's personality and attachment style.

title: Acceptance of insects as food in Germany: Is it about sensation seeking, sustainability consciousness, or food disgust?
abstract: This study examines the acceptance of insect based foods by consumers in Germany. The nationwide online survey (N 516) focused on which factors have the greatest influence on the willingness to consume an insect burger and buffalo worms. In addition to sociodemographic factors, meat consumption and the "classical" variables in the field of entomophagy (familiarity, previous insect consumption, food technology neophobia and food neophobia) the study focuses in particular on the previously unconsidered variables sensation seeking, sustainability consciousness and food disgust. A total of 41.9% of the participants were willing to consume an insect burger. In contrast, only 15.9% of the participants were willing to consume the buffalo worms a principal ingredient of the insect burger. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that food disgust was the most important predictor for the acceptance of edible insects, followed by previous insect consumption, food neophobia, gender, sensation seeking and food technology neophobia. The high influence of food disgust shows that not only the explicit disgust for insects is decisive for the consumer readiness of insect based products, but also the domain specific disgust for food. Despite the strong sustainability awareness of our participants, and contrary to our expectations, sustainability consciousness did not prove to be a significant predictor for the willingness to consume insects. Implications for marketing strategies and educational interventions will be discussed.

title: Fear of Missing Out and Procrastination as Mediators Between Sensation Seeking and Adolescent Smartphone Addiction
abstract: Recent research has identified some risk factors for smartphone addiction. However, scarce research has examined the potential influence of sensation seeking on smartphone addiction, and little is known regarding the mediating mechanisms underlying this relationship. The present study examined the predictive role of sensation seeking on adolescent smartphone addiction and investigated whether fear of missing out (FoMO) and procrastination sequentially mediated the relation between sensation seeking and adolescent smartphone addiction. A sample of 794 adolescents completed questionnaires regarding demographics, sensation seeking, FoMO, procrastination, and smartphone addiction. After controlling for demographic covariates, the results indicated that (a) sensation seeking was positively associated with smartphone addiction; (b) both FoMO and procrastination partially mediated the relation between sensation seeking and adolescent smartphone addiction; and (c) FoMO and procrastination sequentially mediated the relation between sensation seeking and adolescent smartphone addiction. This study highlights the underlying mechanisms between sensation seeking and adolescent smartphone addiction, which has important implications for the preventions and interventions of adolescent problematic smartphone use in this digital era.

title: Risky Sex, Drugs, Sensation Seeking, and Callous Unemotional Traits in Justice Involved Male Adolescents
abstract: The current study examined whether callous unemotional (CU) traits predicted risky sexual behavior (i.e. unprotected sex, casual sex) and whether substance use and sensation seeking mediated this relationship over 24 months in justice involved young men. Participants (N 1,216) were an ethnically and racially diverse sample (46.3% White Latino, 38% Black, 15.7% White non Latino) of first time offending male adolescents (ages 13 17 years) from 3 U.S. cities. Participants completed 5 self reported interviews at 6 month intervals over 2 years. Bootstrapped mediation analyses were conducted to test direct effects of CU traits on risky sexual behaviors, as well as indirect effects through substance use and sensation seeking. CU traits at baseline were positively associated with risky sexual behavior 18 24 months later. CU traits were also associated with the hypothesized mediators, sensation seeking and substance use, measured 6 12 months after baseline. CU traits exerted direct effects on later unprotected sex and casual sex, as well as indirect effects through substance use but not sensation seeking. These effects were largely unchanged when accounting for the youth's level of self reported delinquency. These findings demonstrate that CU traits predict later risky sexual outcomes, and this is at least partly explained by substance use. Further, the findings highlight the importance of CU traits for several outcomes that are of significant public health concern among justice involved adolescents, namely, risky sexual behavior and substance use.

title: Sensation Seeking, Deviant Peer Affiliation, and Internet Gaming Addiction Among Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Effect of Parental Knowledge
abstract: Although there is abundant evidence that an association between sensation seeking and adolescent Internet gaming addiction (IGA) exists, research has provided little insight into why adolescents with high sensation seeking are more likely to be focused on Internet and video games. Grounded in the social development model and ecological systems theory, this study investigated whether deviant peer affiliation mediated the relationship between sensation seeking and adolescent IGA, and whether this indirect link was moderated by parental knowledge. Participants were 1293 Chinese adolescents (49.65% male, Mage 12.89 0.52 years) who completed questionnaires assessing sensation seeking, deviant peer affiliation, parental knowledge, and IGA. Structural equation models revealed that the positive association between sensation seeking and adolescent IGA was partially mediated by deviant peer affiliation. In addition, this indirect link was significantly moderated by parental knowledge. Specifically, the indirect path from sensation seeking to adolescent IGA was stronger for adolescents with low parental knowledge than for those with high parental knowledge. Identifying the role of peers and parents in the onset of adolescent IGA has key implications for prevention and intervention.

title: Within person variability in sensation seeking during daily life: Positive associations with alcohol use and self defined risky behaviors.
abstract: Sensation seeking is the seeking of varied, novel, and intense experiences and the willingness to take risks to engage in these experiences. Sensation seeking is associated with engagement in risky behaviors but questions remain concerning the role of within person variability in sensation seeking. We use data from a 21 day daily diary from 167 participants (mean age 25.37, SD 7.34) to test within person associations between sensation seeking and both alcohol use and self reported risk taking. Participants also reported the riskiest behavior they engaged in each day, allowing insight into the perceived risky behaviors that participants take during daily life. Results indicate those days of higher than usual sensation seeking are more likely to be days on which alcohol is consumed relative to days of no alcohol use. The association between day's sensation seeking and alcohol use does not extend to the quantity of alcohol consumed. Risk taking is higher than usual on days of higher than usual sensation seeking. Using network science tools, we reduce 2,490 self reports of the day's riskiest behavior to 20 communities reflecting a wide range of risk domains, including social, school, work, and drug use risks. Creating a risk taking diversity score based on the identified domains of risk behaviors, we find that trait sensation seeking is positively associated with greater diversity in the types of risks reported. In summary, we observe that sensation seeking and both alcohol use and other risky behaviors are associated at the within person level, and provide insight into the types of risks taken during the course of daily life.

title: The Interactive Effects of Parental Knowledge with Impulsivity and Sensation Seeking in Adolescent Substance Use
abstract: This study examined whether interactions of parental knowledge of adolescent's whereabouts with impulsivity and sensation seeking in the prediction of adolescent substance use supported the diathesis stress or differential susceptibility model in 230 15 year old adolescents (53% girls) Interactions between impulsivity and parental knowledge supported the diathesis stress model with high impulsivity as a vulnerability factor: when impulsivity was higher, low levels of parental knowledge were associated with higher levels of substance use. Interactions between sensation seeking and parental knowledge supported differential susceptibility with low sensation seeking as a susceptibility factor; low parental knowledge was associated with higher substance use and high parental knowledge with lower substance use when sensation seeking was lower. Our results show that impulsivity and sensation seeking should be considered independently. Results support previous research suggesting that impulsivity in adolescence may act as a vulnerability factor and suggests that low sensation seeking may be a susceptibility factor.