Table Of ContentADVENTURE PSYCHOLOGY
In recent years a new set of psychological principles has emerged from research
investigating adventure and adventurous activities. Adventure involves a spe-
cial type of physical activity in natural contexts where participants voluntarily
participate in experiences where the environment and activity are challenging,
perhaps dangerous and potentially life threatening. To go on an adventure is
to participate in an enduring event requiring sustainable effort, where effective
performance is measured not only by success but also by survival. This book
brings together the emerging literature in ‘Adventure Psychology’ that supports
enduring performance and wellbeing.
The first section examines sustaining performance and wellbeing. The second
section studies the transformative aspect of adventure. Adventure Psychology is
of use in everyday life and the techniques and understandings can help people
and business prepare for the future. This book will help us all thrive despite
adversity, volatility and uncertainty.
Written for trainers, educators, researchers and students of sports, performance
and organisational psychology as well as adventurers and endurance athletes,
Adventure Psychology is designed to meet the needs of specialists across a variety
of fields but importantly also to be accessible and applicable for those wanting to
live life fully – to realise our full potential.
Paula Reid has a Batchelor of Education (Hons) degree and graduated with
a Distinction MSc in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology
from the University of East London. Her organisation, ‘Adventure Psychology’,
delivers the performance psychology of how to survive, cope and thrive during
challenging times. She is based in the UK and is a Fellow of the Royal Geo-
graphical Society.
Eric Brymer is a behavioural scientist who specialises in researching the psy-
chology of adventure experiences, performance in extreme environments and
the reciprocal nature of health and wellbeing from nature-based experiences.
He holds a PhD in Adventure Psychology, a Master’s degree in Applied Sport
and Exercise Psychology and postgraduate degrees in Education and Business.
Eric works with and advises governments and institutional departments. He also
holds research positions in health, exercise and outdoor studies in Europe, UK
and Australia.
Routledge Research in Health, Nature and the Environment
The Routledge Research in Health and Nature series offers a multi-disciplinary
forum for cutting-edge research in the broad area of nature, wellbeing and
health. Showcasing the work of emerging and established scholars working in
areas ranging from chronic disease, psychology and mental health to physical
activity and health promotion and socio-economic and cultural aspects of inter-
acting and engaging with nature, the series is an important channel for ground-
breaking research investigating Nature and health that is fast becoming vital for
the health and wellbeing of people and the planet.
Available in this series:
Nature and Heath
Physical Activity in Nature
Edited by Eric Brymer, Mike Rogerson and Jo Barton
Embodied Nature and Health
How to Attune to the Open-source Intelligence
Marcin Fabjański
Adventure Psychology
Going Knowingly into the Unknown
Edited by Paula Reid and Eric Brymer
For more information about this series, please visit: https://www.routledge.com/
sport/series/RRHNE
ADVENTURE
PSYCHOLOGY
Going Knowingly into the Unknown
Edited by
Paula Reid and Eric Brymer
Designed cover image: agsandrew/Getty Images
First published 2023
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 selection and editorial matter, Paula Reid and Eric Brymer;
individual chapters, the contributors
The right of Paula Reid and Eric Brymer to be identified as the
authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual
chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other
means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and
recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
ISBN: 978-1-032-00303-0 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-00304-7 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-17360-1 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003173601
Typeset in Bembo
by codeMantra
CONTENTS
Preface xi
Acknowledgements xiii
List of Contributors xv
Adventure Psychology: Framing the Discipline 1
Eric Brymer and Paula Reid
Adventure Psychology: A Long Past, but a Short History 9
Peter Suedfeld
SECTION I
Sustaining Performance (While Maintaining Wellbeing) 25
1 The Adventurer’s Mind: Exploring Mindset,
Mindfulness, and Wisdom 27
Mohsen Fatemi and Paula Reid
2 Adventures in Extreme Environments 42
Peter Suedfeld
3 Enduring Performance 60
Ronald Duren Jr.
viii Contents
4 Dealing with the Unknown 76
Jennifer Pickett and Paula Reid
5 Adventure, Positive Psychology, and Narrative:
The Wellbeing Impacts of Answering the Call
to Adventure 88
Kitrina Douglas, David Carless, Paula Reid and Ruth Hughes
6 The Human–Environment Dynamic: An Ecological
Dynamics Approach to Understanding Human–
Environment Interactions in the Context of Adventure
Psychology 104
Tuomas Immonen, Eric Brymer, Timo Jaakkola and Keith Davids
7 Fear in Extended Adventures: The Case of Expedition
Mountaineering 120
Katrina Kessler and Eric Brymer
8 Success and Failure in Adventure 131
Erik Monasterio
9 Sisu: Answering the Call of Adventure with
Strength and Grace 142
Emilia Elisabet Lahti
SECTION II
Transformational Impact of Adventure 157
10 How Can Adventure Change Our Consciousness? An
Exploration of Flow, Mindfulness, and Adventure 159
Susan Houge Mackenzie
11 Adventure, Posttraumatic Growth, and Wisdom 172
Hanna Kampman and Petra Walker
12 Adventure and the Sublime: A Quest for
Transformation or Transcendence? 187
Chris Loynes and Amy Smallwood
Contents ix
13 Giving Back: An Autoethnographic Analysis of
Adventure Experience as Transformational 203
Vinathe Sharma-Brymer
Adventure Psychology: Learnings and Implications 219
Eric Brymer and Paula Reid
Index 223
