Self-Transcendence in Mountaineering and BASE Jumping
Frontiers in Psychology January 8, 2019 Erik Monasterio, C. Robert Cloninger
Mountaineering and BASE jumping carry significant risk of injury and death, and reports of reckless disregard and selfishness in these sports are increasing. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) measures seven personality dimensions, including Self-Transcendence, which relates to spiritual experiences and altruistic motivation. Research consistently finds that mountaineers and BASE jumpers are adventurous in temperament and highly self-controlled and organized, yet 75–85% of character configurations in these populations show low Self-Transcendence. This article examines how Self-Transcendence may moderate self-destructive and unethical behaviors in these extreme sports.