The Psychology of Extreme Sports

Abstract

Extreme sports such as BASE jumping, big wave surfing, and rope-free solo climbing are prime examples of activities undertaken in extreme environments where a mismanaged mistake or accident would most likely result in death. Traditional frameworks used to explore motivational, performance, and outcome issues have assumed a risk focus. However, in more recent years, these frameworks have been critiqued. Instead, a more positive approach has been proposed. In this chapter, we overview the traditional approach and present a more nuanced understanding that better reflects the lived experience of extreme sport participants. Finally, the latest research on the psychology of extremism highlights the need to distinguish between extreme sports (considered as research objects) and extreme practices of these sports (motivation-based mechanisms).