People enjoy being challenged

There are four different aspects to sensation-seeking:

Thrill-and adventure-seeking, which has to do with a high adrenaline experience.
Experience-seeking. People who like unusual experiences.
Disinhibition. People who might like to scream on a rollercoaster and give in to their emotions.
Resistance to boredom.

Generally, people that go out to amusement parks want to be challenged and taken to the edge of danger, but ultimately still want to be safe.

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The Science Behind Why We Love Risk

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There's a longstanding assumption behind most of the research on extreme athletes: "Clearly, something's wrong with them." That's what Eric Brymer, a researcher at Leeds Beckett in the UK, has seen for most of his career. Why else would anyone willingly participate in an activity that is quite literally defined by its high levels of perceived risk?

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The Motivation Behind Extreme Sports

One of the most powerful motivators is the satisfaction that comes from succeeding at a hard sport and from the grinding it requires. Although some are looking just for th...

Extreme Sports And Risk

Researchers found that extreme sports athletes often don’t consider their sports risky, and dedicate a lot of time studying and minimizing risks. They believe they have done all they can to mitigate risks through hard work and focus.

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A pleasure to burn: Why do people like spicy foods?

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Getting back to people, there are several vying theories as to how humans developed a taste for pain. One is that we simply enjoy the thrill of it. Dr. Paul Rozin, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, argues that people use spicy foods as a type of "constrained risk" or "benign masochism."Eating spicy foods triggers a mild defense response in us.

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Spicy foods and "constrained risks"

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Eating spicy foods triggers a mild defense response in us. Our heart rates rise, our breathing increases, and our adrenaline starts to flow. We feel alive. It's the same thrill-seeking behavior exhibi...

Spicy foods-an acquired taste

Spicy foods have antifungal and antibacterial properties. In this light, humans have culturally and genetically evolved a preference for spicy foods because they protect us from microscopic assailants. When our taste buds encounter pungency, it's a signal to our brains that the food is cleaner.

Preference for spicy foods, like all foods, is the result of a complex interplay of genes, culture, memory, and personality, a complex design that scientists are only now beginning to u...

Preference for spicy foods, like all foods, is the result of a complex interplay of genes, culture, memory, and personality, a complex design that scientists are only now beginning to understand

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The Science of Staying in Love - Mindful

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We all hope to find a healthy, engaging relationship with a special someone-but the truth is, a long-term partner is a lot harder to find (and keep) than they make it look in the movies. So what gives? It turns out, "falling in love" and "building a relationship" activate completely different parts of the brain, and they don't always work together well.

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The Benefits Of Sex

Schedule it if necessary. Having sex regularly helps with keeping a relationship from going stale and drives up the testosterone system, which makes you want to have more sex.

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Avoiding Routine

Trying new things will keep the relationship from coasting into routine. this drives up the dopamine system and can sustain feelings of romantic love.

This doesn’t have to be a major change, like taking a trip around the world or deciding to have a baby. Little things, like trying a new recipe together, or going for a walk around the block instead of staying in for a movie, can provide the novelty your brain craves.

The Benefits Of Touch

Touch is proven to foster connection, it drives up the oxytocin system and can give you feelings of deep attachment to your partner.