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Expedition stress and personality change.
F N Watts1, S M Webster, C J Morley
1Medical Research Council Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge, UK.
British Journal of Psychology (London, England : 1953)
|August 1, 1992
Summary
Short-term challenges, like a British Schools Exploring Society expedition to India, may positively impact personality development. Participants showed increased traits like emotional stability and responsibility, with women benefiting more.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Personality Development
- Adventure Education
Background:
- Limited research exists on the personality benefits of short-term challenging experiences.
- The British Schools Exploring Society's India expedition offered a unique opportunity to study these effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the assumption that short-term challenges can lead to beneficial personality changes.
- To assess the impact of a specific expedition on participants' personalities.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Gordon Personal Profile Inventory to measure personality traits before and after the expedition.
- Compared personality changes between male and female participants.
Main Results:
- Expedition participation was linked to increased ascendancy, emotional stability, sociability, and responsibility.
- A decrease in cautiousness was observed.
- Women demonstrated more significant positive personality changes compared to men.
Conclusions:
- The expedition appears to be associated with positive personality shifts.
- While findings suggest benefits, alternative explanations for the observed changes cannot be definitively excluded.