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Psychological testing/trait and group dynamics during 110-day in an isolated environment.
1Medical Research and Operations Office, National Space Development Agency of Japan.
Uchu Koku Kankyo Igaku
|July 15, 2003
Summary
Cultural and personal traits are crucial for space missions. This study found that prolonged isolation accentuates individual personality traits, potentially leading to subgroup formation among international space crews.
Area of Science:
- Space Psychology
- Human Factors in Aviation and Spaceflight
- Psychosocial Studies
Background:
- International space missions, including those to the International Space Station (ISS), increasingly involve diverse crews.
- Understanding cultural and personal trait differences is vital for mission success and crew well-being during short and long-duration flights.
- Previous observations on space missions, like the MIR station, suggested significant personal changes in astronauts over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in personal traits during a 110-day isolation period within the Russian Experiment Module.
- To test the hypothesis that prolonged confinement accentuates personal traits and potentially leads to subgroup formation.
- To explore psychosocial tendencies and defense mechanisms in isolated crew members.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Giessen Test (GT), an individual diagnostic instrument assessing self-perceived characteristics and psychosocial tendencies.
- Administered the GT to subjects undergoing 110 days of isolation.
- Focused on how subjects represent themselves in psychoanalytically relevant categories within group relationships, rather than solely on objective personality assessment.
Main Results:
- Personal traits became more explicit and accentuated during the 110-day isolation period.
- The findings support the hypothesis that prolonged confinement intensifies individual characteristics.
- Evidence suggests a tendency towards the formation of subgroups, consistent with observations in other isolated groups.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged spaceflight isolation significantly influences and accentuates personal traits among crew members.
- The Giessen Test proved effective in revealing these changes in self-perception and psychosocial dynamics.
- Understanding these accentuated traits and potential subgroup formation is critical for managing international crews in future space exploration endeavors.