An essential trait

That certain people are more inclined to seek thrills or take risks — shown in studies — has to some extent been blamed on genes.

There are possibly good reasons behind this trait. People who were willing to take risks, even perhaps to their own detriment, would have been advantageous to our ancestors by exploring new territory and discovering which foods were poisonous.

In a 'flight or fight' choice, primitive Homo sapiens had to overcome fear to feed themselves standing against dangerous animals or other phenomena such as extreme weather.

Today, the residual need to confront more nameless fears remains, such as being drawn to the edge of a cliff. Against low risk modern intellectual endeavours, some people need more extreme sensations to give them a buzz, physically, intellectually or socially.

This thrill-seeking trait, whether genetic or environmental in origin, leads some people to dangerous sports, such as white water rafting and bungee jumping. Clearly anyone willing to chase after a life threatening storm is also led, at least in part, by the need for a thrill.