[Spitzensparkin1]

Missing amygdala? I always thought daredevels were missing something. Fear is a basic, useful instinct. In small doses of course. Take the natural fear of falling, it keeps you from getting too close to the edge of the cliff.

[allmendream]

Most daredevils/thrill-seekers DO feel fear, it is what drives them to “push the envelope”.

Dopamine is the brains “Good boy!” chemical, and it doles it out to you when you do things it likes as the “carrot” to encourage such behaviors.

There is much human variation in the number of repeats within the dopamine receptor. A short number of repeats and you are sensitive to dopamine, a long number of repeats and your are less sensitive to dopamine.

Thrill-seekers usually have less sensitivity to dopamine, so they always have to go a little further and faster to get the same thrill.

But they DO experience the thrill.

I think someone like her, who feels no fear at all, would be BORED by jumping out of a plane or taking a corner at 120 mph.

[Grizzled Bear]

I always thought daredevels were missing something. Fear is a basic, useful instinct. In small doses of course. Take the natural fear of falling, it keeps you from getting too close to the edge of the cliff.

Fear is a useful servant but a terrible master.