ABSTRACT
Previous studies of isolated and confined environments (ICEs) have been unable to assign relative priority to the many behavioral issues affecting participants. The current study analyzed psychologically relevant entries in the journals of nine leaders and physicians of French circumpolar expeditions. More than 100 specific themes emerged, distributed across 22 categories. Group Interaction was found to be the most salient of the categories, followed by Outside Communications, Workload, Recreation and Leisure, Medical Support, Adjustment, Leadership, Event, and Food. Substantial evidence of a third quarter phenomenon was found in all expeditions. Unexpectedly, shorter missions (69-180 d) generated more negative reactions than longer missions (230-363 d) and diaries from the sub-Antarctic stations were more negative than those from the Antarctic. The study provides quantitative bases for judgments concerning the relative importance of psychological issues.
Subject(s)
Affect , Research Personnel/psychology , Social Isolation , Adaptation, Psychological , Antarctic Regions , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Anecdotal comparisons frequently are made between expeditions of the past and space missions of the future. Spacecraft are far more complex than sailing ships, but from a psychological perspective, the differences are few between confinement in a small wooden ship locked in the polar ice cap and confinement in a small high-technology ship hurtling through interplanetary space. This paper discusses some of the behavioral lessons that can be learned from previous expeditions and applied to facilitate human adjustment and performance during future space expeditions of long duration.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Expeditions , Interpersonal Relations , Social Isolation , Space Flight , Antarctic Regions , Arctic Regions , Cold Climate , Humans , Stress, PsychologicalABSTRACT
Analogous experience is often instructive when attempting to understand human behavior in extreme environments. The current paper refers to the experiences of polar explorers and remote duty personnel to help identify the factors that influence individual and team performance when small groups are isolated and confined for long durations. The principal factors discussed include organizational structure, intracrew communications, interpersonal relations, leadership style, personnel selection, and training. Behavioral implications also are addressed for the design of procedures and equipment to facilitate sustained individual and group performance under conditions of isolation and confinement. To be consistent with the theme of the symposium, this paper emphasizes the crew requirements for an international expedition to Mars.
