Self-Transcendence in Mountaineering and BASE Jumping.

Erik Monasterio,C Robert Cloninger

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02686

Abstract

The “extreme sports” of mountaineering and BASE Jumping are growing in popularity and are associated with significant risk of injury and death. In recent years there have also been increasing numbers of reports of reckless disregard and selfishness in the pursuit of mountaineering goals, including severe environmental degradation. Extant research has focused predominantly on personality variables that contribute to engagement, participation, and stress responsivity in these extreme sports. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) provides a comprehensive account of personality traits, measuring seven dimensions of personality that are moderately heritable and associated with distinct brain networks and psychological characteristics. One of these traits is Self-Transcendence, which is associated with spiritual ideas and experiences, such as searching for something elevated and greater than one's individual self. High Self-Transcendence can motivate people to act altruistically even if that requires personal sacrifices and hardship. This article draws on the extant research literature, which has consistently found that despite substantial heterogeneity in their individual personality profiles, mountaineers, and BASE jumpers are adventurous in temperament and highly self-controlled and organized in character. Between 75 and 85% of the character configurations observed in these populations are associated with low Self-Transcendence. The purpose of this paper is to consider the role of Self-Transcendence and its effect on individual personality profiles of extreme athletes, in particular in moderating potentially self- destructive, and regressive ethical and moral behaviors in mountaineering and BASE jumping.

Highlights

“Extreme sports” are a diverse group of sporting activities, including mountaineering and BASE Jumping, which require very high levels of skill and are physically and mentally demanding
During recent years there have been increasing numbers of reports of climbers showing apparent disregard for the safety and suffering of sick climbers, and selfishness in the pursuit of mountaineering goals, including behaviors contributing to severe environmental degradation (Apollo, 2014, 2016)
The authors have utilized the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) to identify important aspects of personality that contribute to participation and performance in expert level mountaineering and BASE Jumping

Summary

INTRODUCTION

“Extreme sports” are a diverse group of sporting activities, including mountaineering and BASE Jumping, which require very high levels of skill and are physically and mentally demanding They are associated with high risk of injury and death (Monasterio, 2005; Mei-Dan et al, 2012, 2013). After descending to safety Lisi allegedly failed to raise the alarm about his client’s plight and posted news of his Another extreme sport that is experiencing increasing morbidity and mortality is BASE jumping, which is arguably the most dangerous of the “extreme” sports (Mei-Dan et al, 2012, 2013). Selftranscendent people have an outlook of unity and connectedness that motivates them to work in the service of others, instead of being preoccupied with individual accomplishments and selfaggrandizement (Cloninger et al, 1993)

Objective

DISCUSSION

Findings

CONCLUSION

ETHICS STATEMENT