Groups in Exotic Environments

Transactional Stress: Challenge in a Capsule Environment

“…The main impetus behind this endeavour appears to be a concern regarding the hypothetically harmful impact of the features. This article provides a brief overview of the environmental classification systems of Sells (1973), Harrison and Connors (1984), and Suedfeld (1987), and notes that many aspects of these approaches overlap the revised and more general transactional model of stress proposed by Folkman (2001). The utility of adopting the transactional model of stress as a guide for research into the stresses associated with living in a capsule is then discussed.…”

“…Several authors have attempted to gather this multitude of psychological and physical features into classification systems. Of these, Harrison and Connors (1984), Sells (1973), Suedfeld (1987), and have made noteworthy attempts to catalogue and organise the numerous features of isolated, confining, and physically extreme environments. Sells (1973) found that most isolated environment researchers commonly identify three dimensions: social isolation, confinement, and sensory restriction.…”

“…Several characteristics of the spaceship may curtail the explicit generalization of Sell's system to larger, less-maneuverable environments: fuel-based payload limitations usually require a small crew and a very constrained cargo and living space; the spaceship is able to direct its location and path of travel; and the spaceship's mission has a geographic beginning and end. Harrison and Connors (1984) suggested a somewhat less complex classification system. When developing their taxonomic dimensions, they considered a much more extensive set of exotic environments than those simply destined for space.…”

“…Despite these overlaps, the dimensions themselves remain as useful descriptive labels for many capsule environment features Finally, Suedfeld (1987) has proposed a very concise descriptive model of extraordinary environments. Like Sells (1973), and Harrison and Connors (1984), his classification relies on an assessment of physical features, psychological characteristics of the inhabitants, and the interaction that takes place between these two aspects. However, Suedfeld points out that these broad categories themselves can be rated along the two dimensions of extremeness ("the presence of physical characteristics related to danger and discomfort", p.864) and unusualness ("the novelty of the environment", p. 864).…”

“…The social and physical environmental features described by Harrison and Connors (1984), Sells (1973), Suedfeld (1987), and , Figure 1. The transactional model of stress and coping (after Folkman, 2001) others, can be interpreted as threats or challenges (primary appraisal), and aspects of the person are considered in terms of amelioration of the threat or meeting the challenge (secondary appraisal).…”