Psychologist: Extended Waiting May Even Boost Astronauts' Motivation

Prolonged waiting for the completion of a task generally weakens engagement. However, if the task is important, as in the case of astronauts, and the motivation is strong and consistent with values, then obstacles - if not excessive - can strengthen it and help maintain focus - Dr. Ewa Szumowska from the Jagiellonian University told PAP.

As reported by Axiom Space, the Ax-4 mission with the participation of a Pole, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, will be launched into orbit no earlier than Sunday, June 22. The launch of the mission has already been postponed several times. Initially, the flight of the Falcon 9 rocket, which is to carry the Dragon capsule with the crew into orbit, was planned for May 29, and then for June 8, 10 and 11, later official announcements spoke of the launch at the earliest on June 19. Thus, the mission crew, i.e. the astronauts and several dozen other people, have been in quarantine since the end of May, waiting for the launch preceded by many months of preparations.

"We know from the theory of motivation that such postponed, prolonged waiting for the completion of a task usually weakens commitment. If the start date is constantly postponed, it can theoretically reduce the feeling that it will happen someday and arouse uncertainty. Postponing something that is important and long-awaited also generates frustration, which is generally not conducive to motivation, although this does not always have to be the case," Dr. Ewa Szumowska from the Institute of Psychology of the Jagiellonian University, whose scientific work deals with, among other things, motivation and multitasking, told PAP.

An important component of motivation - as she explained - is the belief that the goal will be achieved. If the motivation is also very strong, highly internalized, i.e. consistent with the values ​​of the person, with their goals, then it does not have to be the case that obstacles or prolonged waiting will reduce motivation and maintaining focus.

"It can remain the same despite difficulties. Sometimes, additional obstacles in the case of such important, exceptional goals can even increase motivation. It seems to us then that the more effort we put in, the harder we try, the more it proves that we care," the interviewee described to PAP.

Certainly, prolonged waiting is a challenge for the body, because you have to remain in a state of expectation, concentration, but also emotional and cognitive tension.

"Astronauts are certainly trained for this, so I think it is easier for them than for the average person without such preparation. What is important is how to deal with this tension, maintaining a routine, training, practicing procedures, maintaining preparation, using stress management techniques, which are probably a key part of such preparation. However, I suspect that waiting is not the biggest emotional burden that can happen during such a mission. Astronauts must also be prepared for worse, much more stressful eventualities. But sudden stress, which promotes mobilization, a critical situation, requiring you to tense up and rise to the occasion, is also different. Chronic, prolonged state of tension can be more insidious," the psychologist noted.

Although the astronauts, along with a significant portion of the staff operating the flight to the International Space Station, have been in quarantine since the end of May, the researcher believes that this does not necessarily have to adversely affect their well-being and concentration.

"Indeed, such separation from loved ones, people who are important to us, is generally difficult, especially in stressful situations and when it is excessively prolonged. However, being in the company of people who are similarly focused on the mission and similarly motivated allows us to maintain commitment. Constantly living the mission and the fact that it is about to happen are techniques often used by various high-commitment groups. Often, such separation - in this particular situation due to quarantine - is used to motivate each other and maintain a state of full focus on the goal," described Dr. Szumowska.

In all of this, there may also sometimes be a tendency towards so-called extreme involvement, reaching 100 percent attention.

"This is an engagement that excludes other areas of life, causing a person to put all their effort, all their energy and time into one activity. This usually applies to various high-risk missions. Olympians often function in this mode, but astronauts are certainly close to this limit. That is why balancing strategies are always used then, to introduce other areas of life into the routine. The point is to avoid burnout and engagement to a degree that will be harmful to physical and emotional health. However, I assume that the astronauts' routine certainly includes techniques aimed at taking care of their mental and emotional health, to avoid excessive mission overload," the interviewee summed up for PAP.

Ewelina Krajczyńska-Wujec (PAP)

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