Adventure Thrills are Addictive

Response to “Nature fix: Addiction to outdoor activities”

“…Evidence of this process was observed in our research, where climbers reported gaining little reward from less thrilling forms of climbing (e.g., indoor climbing) as their experience increased. Buckley, again, has reported similar observations of tolerance in this population, a process he states led to greater risk-taking and time spent achieving the level of reward previously experienced (Buckley, 2015). …”

“…The negative experiences of climbers in our study suggest that participation in extreme sports, particularly at a high-skill level, results in negative experiences when not participating, namely, a sense of craving or urges, negative emotions, and a lack of enjoyment of other experiences. Buckley (2015) corroborates this finding in his exposition of the similarities between avid adventure sports athletes and those with a behavioral addiction, where he reports observing similar withdrawal states in athletes of various adventure sports during his years of ethnographic fieldwork. If alleviated through engagement in extreme sports, withdrawal experiences are likely to contribute to the maintenance of an addiction; though further research is required to confirm this.…”

“…Buckley begins his commentary by supporting the notion that extreme sports exponents display characteristics of addiction, though questions why some individuals who participate in extreme or adventure sports do not display such symptoms. Based on the existing literature on this topic (Buckley, 2015; Heirene et al., 2016; Price & Bundesen, 2005), it appears individuals who have participated for an extended period or who are highly skilled in their craft may be likely to exhibit the characteristics of extreme sports addiction. Factors that moderate the rewarding experiences of extreme sports are also likely to play a determining role.…”

“…Buckley suggests the experience of rush may provide one explanation as to why extreme sports can be addictive. Based on anecdotal reports, the existing empirical evidence surrounding addiction in this population (Buckley, 2015; Heirene et al., 2016; Price & Bundesen, 2005; Willig, 2008), and the personal experience of the authors as extreme sports exponents, the experience of rush as a central feature of extreme sports addiction is intuitively appealing. Buckley has previously argued that the experience of “rush” is viewed within the extreme sports culture as ineffable, though has provided autobiographical accounts of rush experiences and attempted to conceptualize the state (Buckley, 2012).…”

Commentary on: Addiction in extreme sports: An exploration of withdrawal states in rock climbers

“…At least some individual practitioners of adventure sports, recreation, and tourism display all the characteristic criteria of powerful behavioral addiction (Buckley, 2012, 2015a; Heirene, Shearer, Roderique-Davies, & Mellalieu, 2016). There are also many individuals, however, who take part in the same activities without exhibiting symptoms of addiction.…”