Exploring the relationship among rock climbing engagement, sensation-seeking, and creativity: A multi-method approach to understanding the adventure seeking creativity model

The research problem of this study was to explore the relationships among climbing engagement, sensation seeking, and creativity. In addition, this study sought to establish the Adventure Seeking Creativity Model (ASC Model). To achieve these goals, two mixed method studies were conducted. Study one consisted of a quantitative study involving measurement of rock climbers' skill levels, sensation seeking levels, and creativity. Data were collected from 143 rock climbers aged 18 to 29. Zuckerman's (1979) Sensation Seeking Scale, Gough's (1979) Creative Personality Scale, and characteristics of climbing engagement were used to measure relationships. The quantitative data analysis consisted of multiple regression, correlation analysis, and mediation effect tests. The first study found that climbers with higher skill levels tend to have more creativity and that sensation seeking was a crucial mediating factor in the relationship between climbing skill and creativity. In study two, microgenetic methods were used to investigate whether skillful boulderers with high sensation seeking levels would change their climbing behaviors in the boring situations. Ten boulderers were recruited to participate. Data collected by videotaping, observations, and interviews allowed for analysis of the changed movements and to assess whether these changes were creative behaviors. The second study found that when high skilled climbers were on the low challenge route, their creativity emerged in an attempt to avoid boredom. Combining findings from both studies, the process of the ASC Model indicates that when a sensation seeker who has high creative potential, engages in a climbing activity and pursues a flow experience, if the climber's skill level is higher than the challenge level, the individual will have a feeling of boredom; however, the sensation seeker will not tolerate this boring situation and will change behaviors to increase the challenge level, where novel and meaningful behaviors lead to the emergence of creativity.