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Summary-In view of certain psychometric deficiencies of the original Psychoticism scale, an attempt was made to improve the scale by adding new items. It was attempted to increase the internal reliability of the scale, improve the shape of the distribution and increase the mean and variance score. Two different studies are discussed. Reliabilities are now somewhat improved, distributions are closer to normal and mean scores are higher than on the old scale. Four new short 12-item scales for the measurement of P, E, N and L are also given.

This study compared the factor structure of the Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS) in English and American samples, and a new form of the SSS, applicable to both samples, was constructed. Three of the four factors showed good crossnational and cross-sex reliability. English and American males did not differ on the total SSS score, but American females scored higher than English females. Males in both countries scored higher than females on the total SSS score and on the Thrill and Adventure-Seeking and Disinhibition subscales. Significant age declines occurred for both sexes, particularly on Thrill and Adventure Seeking and Disinhibition. The Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS) was developed in an attempt to provide an operational measure of the construct optimal level of stimulation (OLS). The construct is an old one, first formulated by Wundt (1873) to explain the curvilinear relationship between affective reactions and intensities of stimulation. After lying dormant for about 80 years, the OLS resurfaced in the 1950s and early 1960s in many theories, including those of Berlyne (

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