“That’s Crazy…” is just about what I thought when I first encountered extreme sports. And then I wanted to know more about extreme sports and psychology. I had had some extreme times in my youth. That time I threw myself off of a completely good platform with a cord tied to my waist. How about that time I leapt from a 22 story sky crane. I had a bungee cord attached in the bat hang toe drop position over the water of the Pacific Ocean. I dunked my head in the water. And I have jumped off of some pretty high cornices at the top of ski resorts just to feel that rush. But somehow the stuff I was reading about just seemed different.
It seemed that running for over 100 miles in the heat of Death Valley or climbing a frozen waterfall that could crack at any minute might be slightly more extreme than my forays into sports. I really had to look at my own motivations first. When I look back at why I did what I did, I can honestly say that there was more to it than just the rush. I was absolutely into the rush. There was this feeling that I had done something that made the rest of the moments I had just a little more precious. The ultimate preparation that it took, years of my own training in skiing to accomplish this.
For that one moment as I was flying through the air, time stopped and I was focused. Something else happened. When I was finished I did not brag about this in the way that I could have. I spoke of it with humility and reverence. I had realized that I was capable and that I must give respect to nature and the earth that we have been given.
Extreme Sports and Psychology
What is the extreme sports and psychology that can help us understand the motivation and mindset that accompany the activities taken by these athletes? How have some extreme sports and psychology studies been undertaken?
First we have to look at the journals. What types of experiments have been done in regard to science and the understanding of extreme sports. One Research method, the phenomenological approach uses interviews and self-reports. They attempt to understand more about certain aspects of extreme sports.
In 2009 Dr. Erik Brymer who currently holds an Adjunct position at Queensland University of Technology, Australia and his colleague Lindsay Oades Director, Centre for Positive Psychology, University of Melbourne interviewed extreme sports enthusiasts in an attempt to study the relationship between these events and courage and humility. Brymer wrote that the motivation behind this undertaking is not what one might expect. My first thoughts about it being “crazy” which Brymer et al describe as unhealthy and pathological might have been misguided.
Brymer’s 2013 article is on the same topic butuses hermeneutic phenomenology. It discusses the leading theories at the time. They were originally used to posit psychological constructs of motivation for extreme sports psychology. The conclusion that Brymer comes to is that the extreme sports enthusiast is using the experience to actually become closer to understanding the relationship between man and nature. It also helps to realize one’s personal potential. He points out from an evolutionary stance there might be less triumph had it not been for those who pushed the limits. How many advances have been made because a person took the risk? Who else would fly a kite, with metal attached, in an electrical storm?
As an Addiction?
One area that was used for so long to understand motivation would be the study of brain chemistry. Studies have shown that younger persons are more likely to engage in risky behavior. Their brains’ reward centers have grown to completion prior to the executive function centers through which we as humans make rational decisions.
The dopamine centers of the brain are an extremely powerful area. Neuroscience has shown that these areas release chemicals that that make us feel good and help us overcome fear. High levels of dopamine can give us a feeling of well-being. The experience of feelings that accompany extreme sports might be likened to the flood of dopamine that occurs as a result of substance use. However as noted in other areas, this comparison might fall short.
In studies and essays by Dr. Erik Bremer, his interaction with persons who participated in extreme sports lead him to certain suppositions. There were some underpinnings of that adventurous aspect and thrill in these actions. There was also a focus and drive attained that might not have happened in other circumstances. Perhaps the idea that people who do tend to the extreme in sports do not do so just for the thrill and are not pathological in their actions.
Conclusions
My own basis for understanding is informed by a study of behaviorism and relational frame theory. In more lay terms I like to look at the purpose of the behavior and study why it was undertaken or its purpose. Since there are many reasons we do what we do, then there are many reasons that we do not do things. For instance I flush the toilet to remove the toilets contents. I might not say something to Mary about her hair for fear that I might hurt her feelings. However, this inaction on my part with Mary might lead to a safe relationship.
I can never know what might have happened if I had taken the action. In order to know what might happen I would have to take the risk and let her know about what I am thinking. In doing this I just might gain some value. Perhaps my fear is not appropriate. Mary might now see me as the one true friend who was willing to let her know that something was amiss.
So how does this relate to extreme sports and psychology? If a person does not fly the kite with the key, they will never know about electricity. If a person does not spend countless hours refining their skills to overcome a great obstacle they will not know the effect on their life. Perhaps the psychology behind the extreme is that the action is undertaken so that focus can be obtained. Freedom can be seen and man’s ultimate relationship with natural forces can be explored to further advance man. Perhaps with a little spice of crazy too.
References
Brymer, E., & Oades, L. G. (2009). Extreme Sports A Positive Transformation in Courage and Humility. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 49(1), 114-126. doi:10.1177/0022167808326199
Brymer, E. & Schweitzer, R. (2013) Extreme sports are good for your health : a phenomenological understanding of fear and anxiety in extreme sport. Journal of Health Psychology, 18(4), pp. 477-487
Extreme sports are good for your health: a phenomenological understanding of fear and anxiety in extreme sport.
Fischer, P., Greitemeyer, T., Kastenmüller, A., Vogrincic, C., & Sauer, A. (2011). The effects of risk-glorifying media exposure on risk-positive cognitions, emotions