The Attachment Theory as a possible approach for astronaut selection
- Paper number
IAC-05-A1.P.11
- Author
Mrs. Plastina Ida Roberta, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Italy
- Coauthor
Prof. Mazzoni Silvia, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Italy
- Year
2005
- Abstract
One of the most important aspects of manned spaceflight is the actual selection of the crew. This process seeks to select the best qualified candidates who have the greatest chance to complete the mission successfully; in particular, the assessment of personality traits has been recognized by space agencies and researchers as an important approach to identify candidates who are likely to perform and adapt optimally during space missions. A technique suggested for selecting crew members includes screening candidates on a group basis instead of on an individual basis. Groups would be observed prior to going on a mission to determine how well they cooperate and what patterns of social interaction occur: if the crew is to be successful, they will have to become more than just colleagues; they will have to become friends. The purpose of this paper is to determine if a narrative technique based on the Attachment Theory could be used for studying working models of friendship during the selection process of the crew. The narrative technique proposed is the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), a semi-structured measure based on narratives of parent–child relationships. Such narratives are coded to assess working models of attachment, which are sets of rules and expectations for the organization of information relevant to attachment. These models affect not only cognition, memory, and attention, but also behavior and the appraisal of experiences. Working models (states of mind) are assessed in the AAI by a detailed coding of a written transcript of the narrative. In particular, coders rate different facets of the coherence of the narrative, such as idealization, insistence on a lack of memory, and involving anger. On the basis of these ratings, the coder typically classifies the working model of attachment into one of three categories: (1) Secure, working models of individuals who value the relationships and find them influential; (2) Dismissing, working models of individuals who attempt to limit the influence of the relationships; and (3) Preoccupied, working models of individuals who are confused, angry, or preoccupied with the experiences. Ratings of dyadic support from friends is related to secure working models, and inversely related to dismissing working models. Ratings of friend controlling–self dependent behavior and self controlling–friend dependent behavior is related to preoccupied working models. In conclusion only secure individuals should be selected as crew members in long duration space missions: secure individuals are expected to value such affiliative features as cooperation, mutuality, and shared interests; they would also be expected to value support-seeking and support-providing, but they were not expected to emphasize attachment features, such as distress at separation or seeking assistance when physically hurt.
- Abstract document