The Psychology of Thrill Seekers (Coursera)

Offered by Emory University,
The Psychology of Thrill Seekers (Coursera)

Sensation seeking is a trait we all have and includes the search for complex and new experiences. Thrill Seekers, people with high-sensation seeking personalities, crave exotic and intense experiences even when physical or social risks are involved. This course helps learners examine the remarkable world of the high-sensation seeking personality and explores the lifestyle, psychology, and neuroscience behind thrill seekers.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
What Is Thrill Seeking and Sensation Seeking?
In this week, we'll examine the curious beginnings of sensation-seeking research, discuss the four components that make up sensation seeking, and discuss the profile of a high sensation seeker.

WEEK 2
The Psychology and Neuroscience of Sensation Seeking
This week, we'll take a scientific approach to uncovering more about sensation seeking and focus on the fascinating biological processes and environment at play.

WEEK 3
The Habits and Hobbies of High Sensation Seekers
In this week, we'll look at the hobbies and travel and food preferences of high sensation seekers and discuss why they are so unique compared to the average person. We'll begin our exploration with a focus on emotional regulation and what that means for a high sensation seeker.

WEEK 4
How High Sensation Seeking Impacts Relationships
In this week, we get more personal and look at the challenges and rewards high sensation seekers face in regards to relationships and love.

WEEK 5
Is High Sensation Seeking a Superpower or a Super Problem?
In this week, we consider how to perceive high sensation seeking and look at the overall benefits and issues as well as how to keep high sensation seeking in check.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Less Stress, Better Health (Coursera) Coursera
American Psychological Association

Less Stress, Better Health (Coursera)

Stress is a natural part of the human experience. However, stress can also be damaging to people’s physical and psychological health. This course provides an introduction to stress in general and then explores the psychological, physiological, and social consequences of stress. It ends with information on how you can combat the negative effects of stress and build resilience so you can not just survive stress, but also use it to help you grow.

Jun 22nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Schizophrenia (Coursera) Coursera
Wesleyan University

Schizophrenia (Coursera)

The main goal of this class are to gain an introductory exposure to the nature of the psychiatric disorder known as schizophrenia as revealed by the scientific method. We will discuss a broad range of findings from the scientific investigation of biological and psychological factors related to schizophrenia and its treatment.

Jun 22nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Data Collection: Online, Telephone and Face-to-face (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Data Collection: Online, Telephone and Face-to-face (Coursera)

This course presents research conducted to increase our understanding of how data collection decisions affect survey errors. This is not a “how–to-do-it” course on data collection, but instead reviews the literature on survey design decisions and data quality in order to sensitize learners to how alternative survey designs might impact the data obtained from those surveys.

Jun 15th 2026
4 Weeks
Advanced Neurobiology I (Coursera) Coursera
Peking University

Advanced Neurobiology I (Coursera)

Hello everyone! Welcome to advanced neurobiology! Neuroscience is a wonderful branch of science on how our brain perceives the external world, how our brain thinks, how our brain responds to the outside of the world, and how during disease or aging the neuronal connections deteriorate. We’re trying to understand the molecular, cellular nature and the circuitry arrangement of how nervous system works.

Jun 15th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Computational Neuroscience (Coursera) Coursera
University of Washington

Computational Neuroscience (Coursera)

This course provides an introduction to basic computational methods for understanding what nervous systems do and for determining how they function. We will explore the computational principles governing various aspects of vision, sensory-motor control, learning, and memory. Specific topics that will be covered include representation of information by spiking neurons, processing of information in neural networks, and algorithms for adaptation and learning.

Jun 22nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Reasoning Across the Disciplines (Coursera) Coursera
University of North Carolina

Reasoning Across the Disciplines (Coursera)

Critical reasoning skills are a key success factor for students entering their first year of college. They must be able to think logically and form arguments. This course, designed with incoming college freshmen in mind but open to anyone, provides an essential grounding in critical reasoning skills. Faculty from multiple disciplines at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offer guidance on applying critical thinking skills in the context of specific disciplines. By developing these skills, students will learn more, enjoy their courses more, and experience greater academic success.

Jun 15th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Mindfulness and Well-being: Living with Balance and Ease (Coursera) Coursera
Rice University

Mindfulness and Well-being: Living with Balance and Ease (Coursera)

This is the sequel course to Foundations of Mindfulness that will continue to provide a broad overview of the fundamental concepts, principles, and practices of mindfulness. With interactive exercises to help students explore their own attitudes, mental habits and behaviors, Foundations of Mindfulness series offers a pathway for living with more freedom, authenticity and ease. Featured components of the course include experiential exercises, guided meditations, personal reflection and interactive discussions.

Jun 22nd 2026
4 Weeks
Specialty Topics: Biology Across Disciplines (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Specialty Topics: Biology Across Disciplines (Coursera)

In this course, we will explore the applicability and relationship of biology to the arts, business, and psychology. First, we’ll discuss art as a foundational practice to biology and how biology as a science can explain how we interact with the arts, in particular, our experiences making and listening to music. Next, we will discuss the business of biology and how research is funded and the process of clinical trials and human subjects research.

Jun 22nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Children's Human Rights - An Interdisciplinary Introduction (Coursera) Coursera
University of Geneva

Children's Human Rights - An Interdisciplinary Introduction (Coursera)

Drawing on the contributions of several academic disciplines including law, psychology, sociology, history, educational and health sciences, economy and anthropology, an interdisciplinary approach guides the student into a selection of critical issues concerning children’s rights. Participants will gain insight relative to the development of this specific human rights category, as well as to the evolution of the challenges faced by children over time and society’s efforts to respond.

Jun 15th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Psychological First Aid (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Psychological First Aid (Coursera)

Learn to provide psychological first aid to people in an emergency by employing the RAPID model: Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition. Utilizing the RAPID model (Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition), this specialized course provides perspectives on injuries and trauma that are beyond those physical in nature. The RAPID model is readily applicable to public health settings, the workplace, the military, faith-based organizations, mass disaster venues, and even the demands of more commonplace critical events, e.g., dealing with the psychological aftermath of accidents, robberies, suicide, homicide, or community violence.

Jun 15th 2026
5-12 Weeks