This study focused on four female Antarctic expedition team members who successfully skied to the South Pole in 67 days but did not meet their original objective of traversing the continent. The three phases of data collection included (a) a preexpedition personality assessment, (b) daily self-ratings of mood, task effectiveness, stress, coping, and exertion, and (c) postexpedition interviews about stress and coping. Personality measures showed a group high in confidence and achievement and low in bodily concern and competitiveness. Daily measures demonstrated an extremely well-functioning group with highly effective patterns of work and communication. The most commonly reported stressors were interpersonal, particularly concern about the welfare of another team member. Coping with these involved planful problem solving and sharing positive emotions with others. Results confirmed hypotheses that a female expedition team would be similar to male or mixed-gender teams in many respects but would be more sensitive to emotional concerns.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Allison, M. T. , Duda, J. L., & Beuter, A. (1991). Group dynamics in the Himalayas. International Review for the Society of Sport, 26, 175-191.
2.
Beuter, A. , Duda, J. L., Allison, M. T., & Graham, C. (1987). Adjustments to high alfitude trekking among women. Sportwissenschaft, 3, 296-308.
3.
Borg, G.A.V. (1982). Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 14, 377-381.
4.
Bredemeier, B.J.L. , Desertrain, G. S., Fisher, L. A., Getty, D., Slocum, N. E., Stephens, D. E., & Warren, J. M. (1991). Epistemological perspectives among women who participate in physical activity. Journal of Applied Sports Psychology, 3, 87-107.
5.
Butcher, J. N. , Dahlstrom, W. G., Graham, J. R., Tellegen, A., & Kaemmer, B. (1989). Minnesota Mulfiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2): Manual for administration and scoring. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
6.
Butcher, J. N. , Graham, J. R., Williams, C. L., & Ben-Porath, Y. S. (1990). Development and use of the MMPI-2 content scales. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
7.
Chipman, E. (1986). Women on the ice: A history of women in the far south. Beaverton, OR: Melbourne University Press.
8.
Harrison, A. A. , Clearwater, Y. A., & McKay, C. P. (Eds.). (1991). From Antarctica to outer space. New York: Springer-Verlag.
9.
Kanas, N. (1987). Psychological and interpersonal issues in space. American Jouenal of Psychiatry, 144, 703-709.
10.
Kramar, P. , & Drinkwater, B. L. (1980). Women on Annapurna. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 8, 93-99.
11.
Leon, G. R. , Fulkerson, J., Luepker, I., & Yunov, Y. (1993). Perceptions of group influence and effectiveness among disabled and able-bodied members of a Russian wheelchair expedition team. Manuscript submitted for publication.
12.
Leon, G. R. , Kanfer, R., Hoffman, R. G., & Dupre, L. (1991). Interrelationships of personality and coping in a challenging extreme situation. Journal of Research in Personality, 25, 357-371.
13.
Leon, G. R. , Kanfer, R., Hoffman, R. G., & Dupre, L. (1992). Group processes and task effectiveness in a Soviet-American expedition team. Unpublished manuscript.
14.
Leon, G. R. , McNally, C., & Ben-Porath, Y. (1989). Personality characteristics, mood and coping patterns in a successful North Pole expedition team. Journal of Research in Personality, 23, 162-179.
15.
Lester, J. (1980). A psychologist on Mt. Everest. In J. F. Meier, T. W. Morash, & G. E. Welton (Eds.), High adventure outdoor pursuits (pp. 91-106). Salt Lake City, UT: Brighton.
16.
McCormick, I. A. , Taylor, A.J.W., Rivolier, J., & Cazes, G. (1985). A psychometric study of stress and coping during the International Biomedical Expedition to the Antarctic (IBEA). Journal of Human Stress, 11, 150-156.
17.
Mischler, J. K. (1989). A profile of women participants in five long distance winter sporting events. Arctic Medical Research, 48, 12-15.
18.
Petiet, C. A. , Townes, B. D., Brooks, R. J., & Kramer, H. H. (1988). Neurobehavioral and psychosocial functioning of women exposed to high altitude in mountaineering. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 67, 443-452.
19.
Rothblum, E. D. , Morris, J. F., & Weinstock, J. S. (1993). Women in the Antarctic: Risk-taking and social supports. Unpublished manuscript.
20.
Suedfeld, P. (Ed.). (1991). Polar psychology [Special issue]. Environment and Behavior, 23.
21.
Taylor, A.J.W. , & McCormick, I. A. (1985). Human experimentation during the International Biomedical Expedition to the Antarctic (IBEA). Journal of Human Stress, 11, 161-164.
22.
Tellegen, A. (1982). Manual for the Differential Personality Questionnaire. Unpublished manuscript, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
23.
Tuckman, B. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63, 384-399.
24.
Ursin, H. , Bergan, T., Collet, J., Endresen, I. M., Lugg, D. J., Maki, P., Matre, R., Molvaer, O., Muller, H. K., Olff, M., Pettersen, R., Sandal, G. M., Vaemes, R., & Wamcke, M. (1991). Psychobiological studies of individuals in small isolated groups in the Antarctic and in space analogs. Environment and Behavior, 23, 766-781.
25.
Ursin, H. , Comet, B., & Soulez-Lariviere, C. (1991). An attempt to determine the ideal psychological profiles for crews of long term space missions. Advances in Space Research, 12, 301-314.
26.
Vickers, R. R. , Kolar, D. W., & Kelleher, D. L. (1989). Coping strategies and mood during cold weather training (Report No. 89-47). San Diego, CA: U.S. Naval Health Research Center.
27.
Watson, D. , Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 1063-1070.
