BS: The Misconception of Multi-Tasking

To some, Boredom Susceptibility may sound like the most harmless component of sensation seeking. After all, what’s the worst thing that could even come out of simple boredom? More than you think.

As it turns out, many issues may indeed result from Boredom Susceptibility in sensation seekers. One example has been highlighted in a study by Dr. David Sanbonmatsu, Dr. David Strayer, Dr. Nathan Medeiros-Ward, and Dr. Jason Watson, whose examination of individual multi-tasking ability has presented some interesting (perhaps even amusing) results. The study suggests that just about everyone is misconceived in their perception of multi-tasking. Those who multi-task the most often are shown to be actually the least effective at it, yet they are also the most confident in these abilities. Moreover, the most effective multi-taskers are in fact the individuals who multi-task the least often and feel the least confident in their multi-tasking abilities. These assured (yet ineffective) multi-taskers are then the ones showing high levels of sensation seeking. “Finally, the findings suggest that people often engage in multi-tasking because they are less able to block out distractions and focus on a singular task,” which appears to imply effects of Boredom Susceptibility.

Boredom Susceptibility — and the fruitless multi-tasking that may ensue — can likely lead to more than a lack of productivity; as this study indicates, those with the highest self-reported cell phone usage while driving were multi-tasking sensation seekers. When a reputation for distractions is paired with an overestimation of one’s actual capabilities, a dangerous situation may result.

 Mukund Martin

take a sensation seeking test at buzz.drkencarter.com

What happened to polysubstance in DSM5?

Hello Dr. Carter,

I attended your workshop on the DSM-5.  First of all, thank you for an excellent, informative and engaging workshop.  I had asked about coding for a patient who would have been diagnosed with Polysubstance dependence in the DSM-IV-TR.  It wasn't clear to me if I was expected to catalog all of the substances that were abused or if I should use the "Other" category and specify multiple substances.

Thank you for inviting me to follow up with you on this matter.

Hi, 

Yes. That's my understanding of how to diagnose it. In DSM-IV you could indicate polysubstance when a client had no preference for a particular thing. Apparently, that's not how most people used it. They saw "poly" and thought that it meant more than one.

In DSM-5 you are encouraged to investigate and document each individual substance of abuse. 

- See more at: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/apa2013/experts-discuss-changes-updates-dsm-5#sthash.cQiHlJff.dpuf

Dr. Carter

Why we need people with #highsensationseeking personalities

While #highsensationseeking can seem like a huge problem, it's not all about people neglecting their kids and jumping out of perfectly good airplanes. We need people high sensation seeking personalities (especially the low sensation seeking people like myself) in our society. 

Crew repairing the Graf Zeppelin

NEKNOMINATION

NEKNOMINATION

What is the wildest post you would make to a social networking site? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJF6PR_TWOU

“NekNomination” has become a rapidly spreading online craze within only a couple months, and it may clearly reflect HSS personalities among its participants. The game goes by a variety of names, but the rules are roughly consistent: chug a drink, post the video online, and nominate a friend to follow suit. Doesn’t sound much like HSS? Perhaps that’s where the adaptations come in. 

While the original instructions were simply to “neck” and nominate, an additional concept was quickly mixed in: praise be to the most outrageous. For many participants, NekNomination has transformed into less of a typical drinking trend and more of an outlet for the most outlandish (if not entirely reckless) stunts. 

One emphasis has been on the drink. Many individuals have ditched the beer for more surprising concoctions, draining mixtures of hard liquor, energy drinks, Tabasco sauce, spit, urine, raw eggs, vomit, medicine, household cleaners, and worse. 

The flagrant ‘creativity’ doesn’t stop here, for the accompanying performances just might be equally shocking, if not more. Following their drinks of choice, many participants showcase some sort of hazardous or vulgar stunt: stripping down in public, backflipping off a bridge, flying a dirt bike off a ramp, skateboarding down a hill of oncoming traffic, swallowing a pet fish, getting beaten up, lighting oneself on fire, and so on. Despite being introduced only two months ago, NekNominations have already led to the deaths of five participants.

All four major components of HSS personality may be reflected in NekNomination support. 

1. Thrill and Adventure Seeking (dare devilish pursuits)

2. Experience Seeking (spontaneity)

3. Disinhibition (social drinking)

4. Boredom Susceptibility (aversion to dullness or lack of creativity)

While some critics gape at this behavior in shock and disgust, its popularity admits that a significant number of individuals have enthusiastically embraced the bizarre game as an amusing and satisfying opportunity rather than danger.

Take a look for yourself and google NEKNOMINATION

Does driving faster get you there faster..buzz-junkies think so

 Driving styles vary along with the plentiful personality types, some styles more dangerous than others, presumably because some driving styles involve generally faster driving than other driving styles.  Dr. Eyal Peer and Dr. Tove Rosenbloom have done research of “the Effects of time-saving bias and sensation-seeking on driving speed choices” and have some rather interesting findings.  They have found that drivers overwhelmingly often go beyond the speed limit because they overestimate the time it will save them in getting to their destination.  Dr. Peer and Dr. Rosenbloom call this “time-saving bias”.  Time saving bias entails that the drivers believes driving at a faster speed reduces the time it takes to arrive at their destination by a longer amount of time than it actually does.  According to Peer and Rosenbloom, “research has shown that drivers typically overestimate the time gained when increasing from an already relatively high speed while underestimating the time gained when increasing for a relatively low speed”, which further explains time-saving bias.

 Can time-saving bias be the only reason drivers speed whilst driving?  According to Dr. Peer and Dr. Rosenbloom, the answer to that question is no.  Possessing the general trait of high sensation seeking entails that the possessor “needs more stimulation to maintain an optimal level of arousal while low sensation seekers manage themselves better in relatively less stimulating settings”.  High sensation seekers have a chemical make-up which in a sense predisposes them to disinhibited behaviors such as driving at high speeds.  The combination of time-saving bias and a high sensation seeker’s potential to drive at high speeds regardless makes for a rather dangerous experience, but for some high sensation seekers, a necessary one.