SENSATION SEEKING, TELEVISION VIEWING MOTIVES, AND HOME TELEVISION VIEWING PATTERNS

This study examined the relationships between sensation seeking and te levision viewing motives and home TV viewing preferences. A total of 1 89 participants completed a sensation seeking scale, rated the importa nce of several global television viewing motives, and indicated viewin g frequency for 18 categories of TV programming. Findings indicated th at, contrary to previously-reported results, high sensation seekers di d not watch less television or rate it as less important in their live s compared to low sensation seekers. Sensation seekers did, however, i ndicate severer program viewing preferences. Compared to low sensation seekers, high sensation seekers watched more music videos, daytime ta lk shows, stand-up comedy programs, documentaries, and animated cartoo ns; they watched fewer newscasts and drama series. Findings are discus sed in terms of selective exposure processes and social-environmental influences on behavioral manifestations of sensation seeking. Copyrigh t (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.