Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T02:40:44.748Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Changes in expeditioners' personality measures during 1 year Antarctic expeditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2022

Oleg Kokun Open the ORCID record for Oleg Kokun [Opens in a new window]  and
Larysa Bakhmutova Open the ORCID record for Larysa Bakhmutova [Opens in a new window]
Oleg Kokun*
Affiliation:
G.S. Kostiuk Institute of Psychology of National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, 2 Pankivska, Kyiv 01033, Ukraine
Larysa Bakhmutova
Affiliation:
National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, 16 Boulevard of Taras Shevchenko, Kyiv 01601, Ukraine
*
[email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The extreme working and living conditions at Antarctic stations cause numerous psychological changes in expeditioners. However, research on the changes in expeditioners' personality traits is virtually non-existent. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the changes in expeditioners' personality measures during 1 year Antarctic expeditions. This study examined 56 expeditioners working at the Ukrainian Antarctic Akademik Vernadsky station (52 men, 4 women; ages 20–63 years, M = 38.12, SD = 10.01) who participated in five annual expeditions between 2016 and 2021. The Ukrainian adaptations of four measures were used: the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Leonhard-Schmieschek Questionnaire and the Leary Interpersonal Checklist. During 1 year Antarctic expeditions, 8 of the 26 indicators used to describe expeditioners' personality measures changed significantly (P < 0.001–0.1). These indicators belonged to three of the four measures used in the study and were assessed as personally unfavourable. They included increased psychoticism and competing, managerial-autocratic, aggressive-sadistic, responsible-hypernormal, competitive-narcissistic and self-effacing-masochistic styles and a decreased accommodating style. Based on these results, promising areas for further research that could improve psychological selection, training and work for Antarctic expedition personnel are outlined.

Keywords

Antarctic environmentsAntarctic expedition personnelAntarctic stationpersonality assessmentpsychological changessmall isolated group
Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , April 2022 , pp. 137 - 143
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Antarctic Science Ltd.

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aldasheva, A.A. 1984. Strategy of psychological adaptation to Antarctic conditions. Human Physiology, 10, 12–18.Google ScholarPubMed
Alessandri, G., Perinelli, E., Robins, R.W., Vecchione, M. & Filosa, L. 2020. Personality trait change at work: associations with organizational socialization and identification. Journal of Personality, 88, 10.1111/jopy.12567.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Belkin, V.S., Dyurgerov, M.B., Finaev, A.F. & Soroko, S.I. 2016. Bioclimatic evaluation of the human discomfort level for several Antarctic regions. Human Physiology, 42, 10.1134/S0362119716020043.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bhargava, R., Mukerji, S. & Sachdeva, U. 2000. Psychological impact of the Antarctic winter on Indian expeditioners. Environment and Behavior, 32, 10.1177/00139160021972450.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bleidorn, W., Hopwood, C.J. & Lucas, R.E. 2018. Life events and personality trait change. Journal of Personality, 86, 10.1111/jopy.12286.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blight, S. & Norris, K. 2018. Positive psychological outcomes following Antarctic deployment. The Polar Journal, 8, 10.1080/2154896X.2018.1541552.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, N., Wu, Q., Li, H., Zhang, T. & Xu, C. 2016. Different adaptations of Chinese winter-over expeditioners during prolonged Antarctic and sub-Antarctic residence. International Journal of Biometeorology, 60, 10.1007/s00484-015-1069-8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Collet, G., Mairesse, O., Cortoos, A., Tellez, F.H., Neyt, X., Peigneux, P., et al. 2015. Altitude and seasonality impact on sleep in Antarctica. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 86, 10.3357/AMHP.4159.2015.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Denissen, J.J., Luhmann, M., Chung, J.M. & Bleidorn, W. 2019. Transactions between life events and personality traits across the adult lifespan. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 116, 10.1037/pspp0000196.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Doll, R.E. & Gunderson, E.K. 1970. The relative importance of selected behavioral characteristics of group members in an extreme environment. Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, 75, 10.1080/00223980.1970.9923752.Google Scholar
Eysenck, H.J. & Eysenck, S.B.G. 1991. Manual of the Eysenck personality scales (EPS adult). London: Hodder & Stoughton, 39 pp.Google Scholar
Grant, I., Eriksen, H., Marquis, P., Orre, I., Palinkas, L., Suedfeld, P., et al. 2007. Psychological selection of Antarctic personnel: the ‘SOAP’ instrument. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 78, 793–800.Google ScholarPubMed
Gunderson, E.K.E. 1974. Psychological studies in Antarctica. American Geophysical Union Antarctic Research Series, 22, 115–131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jaksic, C., Steel, G.D., Stewart, E. & Moore, K. 2019. Antarctic stations as workplaces: adjustment of winter-over crew members. Polar Science, 22, 10.1016/j.polar.2019.100484.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khandelwal, S.K., Bhatia, A. & Mishra, A.K. 2017. Psychological adaptation of Indian expeditioners during prolonged residence in Antarctica. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 59, 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_296_16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kokun, O. & Bakhmutova, L. 2020. Dynamics of indicators of expeditioners' psychological states during long Antarctic stay. International Journal of Psychology & Psychological Therapy, 20, 5–12.Google Scholar
Kokun, O. & Bakhmutova, L. 2021. The impact of expeditioners' personality traits on their interpersonal interactions during long-term Antarctic expeditions. Polish Polar Research, 42, 10.24425/ppr.2021.136512.Google Scholar
Leary, T. 2004. Interpersonal diagnosis of personality: a functional theory and methodology for personality evaluation. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 538 pp.Google Scholar
Leon, G.R., Sandal, G.M. & Larsen, E. 2011. Human performance in polar environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31, 10.1016/j.jenvp.2011.08.001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mehta, M. & Chugh, G. 2011. Achievement motivation and adjustment in members of Indian scientific expedition to Antarctica. Psychological Studies, 56, 10.1007/s12646-011-0109-7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mullin, J.R. 2006. Some psychological aspects of isolated Antarctic living. American Journal of Psychiatry, 117, 10.1176/ajp.117.4.323.Google Scholar
Nicolas, M., Suedfeld, P., Weiss, K. & Gaudino, M. 2016. Affective, social and cognitive outcomes during a 1-year wintering in Concordia. Environment and Behavior, 48, 10.1177/0013916515583551.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norris, K., Paton, D. & Ayton, J. 2010. Future directions in Antarctic psychology research. Antarctic Science, 22, 10.1017/S0954102010000271.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Palinkas, L.A. & Suedfeld, P. 2008. Psychological effects of polar expeditions. Lancet, 371, 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61056-3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Palinkas, L.A., Gunderson, E., Holland, A.W., Miller, C. & Johnson, J.C. 2000. Predictors of behavior and performance in extreme environments: the Antarctic space analogue program. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 71, 619–625.Google ScholarPubMed
Paterson, R.A.H. 1978. Personality profiles in a group of Antarctic men. International Review of Applied Psychology, 27, 10.1111/j.1464-0597.1978.tb00355.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, R. 2011. Psychology at the end of the world. Psychologist, 24, 22–25.Google Scholar
Rothblum, E. 1990. Psychological factors in the Antarctic. Journal of Psychology, 124, 10.1080/00223980.1990.10543221.Google ScholarPubMed
Sandal, G., Van de Vijver, F. & Smith, N. 2018. Psychological hibernation in Antarctica. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02235.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sarris, A. 2006. Personality, culture fit, and job outcomes on Australian Antarctic stations. Environment and Behavior, 38, 10.1177/0013916505279044.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schmieschek, H. 1970. Questionnaire for the determination of accentuated personalities. Psychiatrie, Neurologie und Medizinische Psychologie, 22, 378–381 [in German].Google ScholarPubMed
Schwaba, T. & Bleidorn, W. 2018. Individual differences in personality change across the adult life span. Journal of Personality, 86, 10.1111/jopy.12327.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, N., Sandal, G.M., Leon, G.R. & Kjærgaard, A. 2017. Examining personal values in extreme environment contexts: revisiting the question of generalizability. Acta Astronautica, 137, 10.1016/j.actaastro.2017.04.008.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Suedfeld, P. 2018. Antarctica and space as psychosocial analogues. Reach, 9, 10.1016/j.reach.2018.11.001.Google Scholar
Suedfeld, P. & Steel, J.D. 2000. The environmental psychology of capsule habitats. Annual Review of Psychology, 51, 10.1146/annurev.psych.51.1.227CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Suedfeld, P., Bernaldez, J.P. & Stossel, D.L. 1989. The Polar Psychology Project (PPP): a cross-national investigation of polar adaptation. Arctic Medical Research, 48, 91–94.Google ScholarPubMed
Thomas, K.W. & Kilmann, R.H. 2002. Thomas-Kilmann conflict mode instrument. Mountain View, CA: CPP, 16 pp.Google Scholar
Tortello, C., Barbarito, M., Cuiuli, J.M., Golombek, D., Vigo, D.E. & Plano, S. 2018. Psychological adaptation to extreme environments: Antarctica as a space analogue. Psychology and Behavioral Science, 9, 10.19080/PBSIJ.2018.09.555768.004.Google Scholar
Tortello, C., Folgueira, A., Nicolas, M., Cuiuli, J.M., Cairoli, G., Crippa, V., et al. 2021. Coping with Antarctic demands: psychological implications of isolation and confinement. Stress and Health, 37, 10.1002/smi.3006.10.1002/smi.3006CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weiss, K., Suedfeld, P., Steel, G. D., & Tanaka, M. 2000. Psychological adjustment during three Japanese Antarctic research expeditions. Environment and Behavior, 32, 10.1177/00139160021972478CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wencheng, Z., Wen, W. & Yongzhong, Y. 1995. Analyses on the physio-psychological state of the expeditioners in Antarctica. Chinese Journal of Polar Science, 6, 72–75.Google Scholar
Wood, J., Lugg, D.J., Hysong, S.J. & Harm, D.L. 1999. Psychological changes in hundred-day remote Antarctic field groups. Environment and Behavior, 31, 10.1177/00139169921972128.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Woods, S.A., Edmonds, G.W., Hampson, S. & Lievens, F. 2020. How our work influences who we are: testing a theory of vocational and personality development over fifty years. Journal of Research in Personality, 85, 10.1016/j.jrp.2020.103930.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zhang, Z., Yan, G., Sun, C. & Saklofske, D.H. 2021. Who will adapt best in Antarctica? Resilience as mediator between past experiences in Antarctica and present well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 169, 10.1016/j.paid.2020.109963.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zimmer, M., Cabral, J.C.C.R., Borges, F.C., Côco, K.G. & Hameister, B.R. 2013. Psychological changes arising from an Antarctic stay: systematic overview. Estudos de Psicologia Campinas, 30, 10.1590/S0103-166X2013000300011.Google Scholar