ABSTRACT
Change is indeed a fact of life, whether we resist it or accept it. Even if we choose to remain the same, the people and situations we encounter and the world around us will change. But some creatures seek change rather than merely adapting to it. A moderate amount of change or sensation seeking has an obvious adaptive value for organisms with a capacity to acquire and retain information. New sources of food supply and general familiarization with, and even expansion of, one's territory are an advantage to the more adventurous, exploratory type. Sexual, aggressive, and much normal social behavior require some tolerance for the relatively novel and arousing situation. However, it is also likely that organisms that are too adventurous and sensation seeking will take risks that may reduce their survival chances. As with most other traits, evolution has probably produced variations about an optimal level of the trait.
