Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-8, 8-item)
Measure your tendency to seek novel and intense experiences
Are you the type who craves stability or hunts for thrills? The BSSS-8 gives you a quick read on your sensation seeking tendency. 8 items, about 3 minutes.
About This Assessment
The Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-8) was developed by Hoyle, Stephenson, Palmgreen, Lorch, and Donohew and published in Personality and Individual Differences in 2002. It is a shortened version of Zuckerman's sensation seeking framework, capturing the same core dimensions in just 8 items.
What It Measures
The scale covers four aspects of sensation seeking:
- Experience Seeking - desire for new places and experiences
- Boredom Susceptibility - intolerance of repetitive or monotonous environments
- Disinhibition - seeking stimulation through social activities
- Thrill and Adventure Seeking - interest in high-risk physical activities
Each dimension has 2 items. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1=Strongly Disagree, 5=Strongly Agree). Total score ranges from 8 to 40.
Interpreting Your Score
- 20 or below: Lower sensation seeking. You prefer familiar and predictable environments. This helps with maintaining stable routines and deep relationships.
- 21-29: Moderate sensation seeking. You are open to new experiences but also weigh risks. This balance serves you well in most situations.
- 30 and above: Higher sensation seeking. You are drawn to new experiences and intense stimulation, and get restless with routine. This is an advantage in creative or adventurous contexts.
Psychometric Properties
The BSSS-8 shows good internal consistency (a = 0.74-0.78) and correlates strongly with Zuckerman's full SSS-V (r = 0.75).
Scoring Guide
BSSS-8 (8-item) is scored as follows: All items forward-scored (1-5). Sum all 8 items for total score (range 8-40). Interpretation: 20 or below = Lower sensation seeking, 21-29 = Moderate, 30-40 = Higher sensation seeking.Result Interpretation
After completing the 8 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.