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Why do people perform thrilling activities? A study based on reversal theory
Fabien D Legrand1, Michael J Apter
1Université de Reims, France. fabien.legrand@univ-reims.fr
Psychological Reports
|April 14, 2004
Summary
Participating in frightening activities like the Fantasticable cable ride can enhance emotional states. This arousal-seeking leisure activity reduces unpleasant emotions and increases pleasant excitement, supporting reversal theory.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Leisure Studies
Background:
- Reversal theory proposes that engaging in frightening activities can lead to heightened anxiety, which, upon a metamotivational reversal, results in pleasant excitement.
- Arousal-seeking leisure behaviors are theorized to positively impact emotional well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the reversal theory's assumption that frightening activities induce a positive emotional shift.
- To investigate the emotional changes experienced by individuals before and after participating in a high-arousal leisure activity.
Main Methods:
- Administered the Tension and Effort Stress Inventory to 46 participants before and after a "Fantasticable" cable ride.
- A control group (30 subjects) completed the inventory in a safe context with a 2-minute rest period between administrations.
Main Results:
- The "Fantasticable" group showed significant decreases in tension, stress, anxiety, and unpleasant emotions.
- Participants experienced significant increases in preferred arousal, excitement, transactional emotions, and pleasant emotions post-activity.
- Pre-activity anxiety positively correlated with post-activity excitement in the "Fantasticable" group, but not the control group.
Conclusions:
- Findings support reversal theory's prediction that involvement in arousal-seeking leisure can improve emotional states.
- Participation in frightening activities is associated with emotional enhancement, as evidenced by the shift from unpleasant to pleasant emotions.