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The term "thrill seeking" as used in the following text will refer exclusively to one's voluntary participation in a physically dangerous, physically stimulating sport. Please do not get "physical thrills" confused with criminal, intellectual, pop-musical, immoral, or Edward Cullen thrills (although context shifts using these five thrill classifications might be amusing). Enjoy.
Our bodies are incredible things. They naturally reward us with good feelings when we do something that encourages a longer lifespan or encourages reproduction.
The practicing of thrill seekers' sports seems to be an innate part of humanity regardless of race or culture. This is overwhelmingly strong evidence that the trait of physical thrill seeking is part of how we evolved. Whether it is a coincidental evolutionary flaw or a naturally selected trait is the real question.
As a perfect example, cliff diving is a very common activity in most cultures. Some may say that cliff jumping would be meaningless without the social-vs.-rational dilemma: weighing the physical risk of the act against the magnitude of social pressures (commonly in the form of the adrenaline-inducing chant, "....Dooo it. Dooo it. Dooo it...."). But, I believe that even if we take the social aspect away from this thrill seeker sport, there will be at least a semi-addicting physical gratification.
In a logical world, I think that the body would not give a positive reaction to such life-threatening activity. So, if you love life AND have low insurance rates, you are more evolved than the rest of us. Kudos.
—Drew
Very interesting. Regardless of how dumb an act of the physical thrill junky may be the body still rewards us with good feelings of not being dead. So maybe we like the feeling that we are going to die but not the pain and death that is usually involved afterward.
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