Born To Be Wild?
If you love things like skydiving, mountain climbing, and riding roller coasters, it might not be your choice. It may be genetic.
Correspondent Sandra Maas of CBS affiliate KFMB-TV in San Diego reports there's evidence that daredevils are born, not made.
The risks, the rush the racing heartbeat all make up the psychology of adventure, and it all starts in our genes.
"People inherit at least in part after a predisposition to be a thrill seeker and a risk taker,"says Frank Farley, a psychologist who specializes in the thrill-seeking personality. He says adventure seekers are often very successful in life.
"Politician, scientist, artist, writer, all of the people that have changed human history have been people who are willing to engage -- willing to move forward to get involved in new experiences and new stimulation."
But he warns that thrill seeking can become life threatening if not tamed.
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"Experimenting with drugs, drinking and driving, unsafe sex. Things like that are destructive forms of thrill seeking," says Farley.
You can find plenty of thrill seekers on roller coaster rides. Since adventurous spirits emerge early in children, it's important for parents to recognize that and not stomp it out.
Experts suggest taking kids to theme parks for some safe fun, getting your children involved in high-intensity sports, and taking adventurous vacations should help to satisfy the daredevil in anyone.