So, You Think You Can Row? – An Exploratory Study on One Team’s Experience Rowing the Atlantic Ocean
Date of Award
2021
Document Type
Doctoral Research Paper
Degree Name
Psy.D.
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
Artur Poczwardowski
Second Advisor
Michael Karson
Third Advisor
Trey Cole
Keywords
ICE environment, Salutogenic effect, Team dynamics, Team cohesion, Team efficacy, Grit, Hardiness, Ocean rowing
Abstract
Isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments are inherently stressful, dangerous, and challenging situations that humans have historically found themselves attracted to conquering or understanding. Although the literature is vast and varied, competitive ocean rowing has not yet been documented as an ICE environment. The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge (TWAC) is a 3,000 nautical mile race that encompasses all elements of an ICE environment, with the added performance element inherent to competition. This study captured a single team’s experiences completing the TWAC. The combination of quantitative measures and contextual data (interviews) illustrated a robust picture of this team’s challenges and successes in their endeavor to race across the Atlantic. This exploratory research underscored the importance of personnel selection (personality traits) as it is related to team dynamics and the impact team dynamics can have on team efficacy. Although the rowing endeavor was rife with challenges and setbacks, this study provided further evidence of the salutogenic effect following completion of challenging ICE environment missions.
Publication Statement
Copyright held by the author. Permanently suppressed.
Extent
63 pgs
Recommended Citation
Robinson, Elizabeth Wendell, "So, You Think You Can Row? – An Exploratory Study on One Team’s Experience Rowing the Atlantic Ocean" (2021). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 419.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/419