Personality traits of people attracted by parabolic flight.
BACKGROUND
Studies have shown that members of expeditions in extreme environments differed on the basis of personality factors (e.g., they were highly competitive, higher on Extraversion and Conscientiousness) compared to the control population. In order to identify individuals who are likely to participate in extreme environments, the aim of the present study using parabolic flights was to compare the personality traits of voluntary participants (VP) in a weightlessness experiment with those of the general population (GP) (French norms).


METHODS
The personalities of 57 voluntary participants in a parabolic flights experiment were assessed using NEO-PI-R and Trait-Anxiety.


RESULTS
Our results show significant differences with the general population: (1) in Trait-Anxiety (GP = 42.25 +/- 11.44 vs. VP = 34.56 +/- 6.24) and in 3 out of 5 personality domains (Neuroticism GP = 90.04 +/- 22.68 vs. VP = 78.70 +/- 17.44, +/- 18.87 vs. VP = 123.81 +/- 15.41, and Conscientiousness GP = 109.23 +/- 22.30 vs. VP = 124.47 + 19.03); and (2) in 14 out of 30 NEO-PI-R facets.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate a specific personality profile for voluntary participants in parabolic flights and confirm that participants attracted to extreme environments differ compared to the normative population.
Université de Lorraine, Metz, France.
Aurélie
A
Collado
Université de Lorraine, Metz, France.
Vincent
V
Monfort
Université de Lorraine, Metz, France.
Jean-Philippe
JP
Hainaut
Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, Reims, France.
Elisabeth
E
Rosnet
Université de Lorraine, Metz, France.
Benoît
B
Bolmont
D001359:Aviation; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011581:Psychological Tests; D014893:Weightlessness; D055815:Young Adult