Citation

Kerr JH. Pers. Individ. Dif. 1991; 12(6): 613-616.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0191-8869(91)90258-D

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Three independent studies, involving male Australian, Dutch and British subjects, were carried out to examine arousal-seeking (paratelic dominance) in regular performers of risk and safe sports. Research participants comprising samples of risk, safe and, in one case, non-sporting individuals completed the Telic Dominance Scale (TDS). The results indicated that: (a) Australian surfers and sailboarding groups scored similarly and significantly lower than a weight training group on all three TDS subscales and on overall telic dominance; (b) Dutch parachutists and motor-cycle racers scored significantly lower on the arousal avoidance TDS subscale than marathon runners; (c) British glider pilots scored significantly lower on the arousal avoidance TDS subscale than a non-sporting sample of the general public. The findings generally support the view, from reversal theory, that individuals who perform risk sports on a regular basis are arousal seekers.