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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sensation seeking, alcohol expectancies, problem drinking, and motivation for alcohol use to provide valuable information for prevention or intervention of adults' drinking problem. Methods: The participants were 297 adults (155 males and 142 females) living in Seoul and suburbs, whose ages ranged from 20 to 63, and average was 29.25 (SD=8.86). Psychological testings were used to measure Sensation Seeking Scale Form V, Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire, Coopers Revised Drinking Motives Questionnaire, and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were used to measure problem drinking. Results: Problematic drinkers showed higher levels of sensation seeking and alcohol expectancies than non-problematic drinkers. Disinhibition, subscale of sensation seeking, was closely related to problem drinking and motivation for alcohol use. And, sensation seeking was closely related to social motives to drink. Alcohol expectancy for changes in social behavior accounted more variance of problem drinking and motivation for alcohol use than alcohol expectancy for relaxation and tension reduction did. Sensation seeking and alcohol expectancies were more closely related to motivation for alcohol use than problem drinking. And, Sensation seeking was more closely related to motivation for alcohol use and problem drinking than alcohol expectancies was. Conclusion: The present study suggests that sensation seeking and alcohol expectancies are more strongly related to motivation for alcohol use than drinking behavior itself, and alcohol expectancies as a cognitive variable are more determinant for problem drinking, and motivation for alcohol use. It was discussed with previous studies and suggested the information for further studies, prevention and intervention of problem drinking.