Ascending and descending psychological changes in the frozen land of Antartica

Abstract

Dramatic change for those people ~ravel from equator regions to polar lands would cause significant psychological and physiological challenges. In this study, the exploring team from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia was departed as t~ do their heuristic and probative duties. Three weeks traveling in the extreme cold weather in Antarctica brought the unprecedented opportunity for considering psychological changes. Methodologically! the qualitative approach was chosen to study the psychological changes. Observing and interviewing the six departed scientists were appropriate instruments to collect the data as to reveal the psychological changes. The data were analyzed through disclosing the emerged themes. The process of psychological changes at the individual level is divided into ascending and descending psychological factors, which are based on participants! reactions in different circumstances. Moreover, it is concluded that based on the recognized attitudes! individuals choose positive and negative strategies in order to act in a certain way to face the extreme cold conditions in Antarctica.