1. THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF WORKING IN A LUNAR SETTLEMENT CHESTER S. SPELL School of Business-Camden Rutgers University cspell@camden.rutgers.edu cspell@camden.rutgers.edu

2. Technology makes it possible for human beings to live and work in places that in the past we could neither reach nor have survived in. Technology makes it possible for human beings to live and work in places that in the past we could neither reach nor have survived in. Extreme environments (e.g. Lunar base) present unique opportunities for psychological research and applications. Extreme environments (e.g. Lunar base) present unique opportunities for psychological research and applications.

3. Prior Research Psychological research of EUEs: polar stations polar stations space vehicles space vehicles undersea habitats undersea habitats Methods : psychometric and projective tests, interviews, participant observations, field studies, simulations

4. The Good News Autobiographical accounts of astronauts(Collins 1974). Autobiographical accounts of astronauts(Collins 1974). Polar crews report many more positive than negative experiences Polar crews report many more positive than negative experiences Twenty-six of 28 participants in a undersea habitat study were willing to do it again Twenty-six of 28 participants in a undersea habitat study were willing to do it again

5. Perception and reality How people experience an environment is more important than the objective characteristics of the environment (Suedfeld 1991). How people experience an environment is more important than the objective characteristics of the environment (Suedfeld 1991).

6. Potential negative impact on psychological well-being Social isolation Confinement Sensory restriction Circadian Rhythms

7. Confinement & Monotony After 2 weeks the foremost psychological irritants were inadequate leadership and the behavior of others (Smith,1969). After 2 weeks the foremost psychological irritants were inadequate leadership and the behavior of others (Smith,1969). Members with low social coherence report significantly more depression, anxiety, and anger (Palinkas,2003) Members with low social coherence report significantly more depression, anxiety, and anger (Palinkas,2003)

8. Conflict Murderous attack over a chess game (Palinkas 1990) Murderous attack over a chess game (Palinkas 1990) Assault with a hammer (New Zealand Herald 1996). Assault with a hammer (New Zealand Herald 1996). Foreign visitors in Russian and American space flights felt marginalized. Foreign visitors in Russian and American space flights felt marginalized.

9. Are prior results relevant for a lunar base? Unlikely that we can generalize data from Mercury missions, Shuttle missions of a week or two, Mir space station missions of 6–12 months. Unlikely that we can generalize data from Mercury missions, Shuttle missions of a week or two, Mir space station missions of 6–12 months.

10. Our research: Study 1 People working in groups share perceptions of fairness of work assignments, responsibility, etc. People working in groups share perceptions of fairness of work assignments, responsibility, etc. The work group’s “fairness climate” can affect individual levels of anxiety and depression (Spell & Arnold, in press) The work group’s “fairness climate” can affect individual levels of anxiety and depression (Spell & Arnold, in press) Social contagion-feelings of fairness (or unfairness) Social contagion-feelings of fairness (or unfairness)

11. Implication: in cohesive groups (limited interaction outside of group) establishing and maintaining fair procedures especially significant Implication: in cohesive groups (limited interaction outside of group) establishing and maintaining fair procedures especially significant

12. Our research: Study 2 Faultlines: subgroups or divisions Gender Age Experience level Ethnic group groups with strong faultlines and unsupportive supervisors were less anxious and depressed than groups with weak faultlines groups with strong faultlines and perceived unfairness were less anxious and depressed than groups with weak faultlines

13. Implications Group composition affects individual mental health Group composition affects individual mental health In diverse work groups, importance of supportive supervisor trained in leadership In diverse work groups, importance of supportive supervisor trained in leadership Speculation: effects exacerbated in extreme and isolated work environment of a lunar base Speculation: effects exacerbated in extreme and isolated work environment of a lunar base

14. Recommendations Radloff & Helmreich: those who were considered best suited to working under water could also walk on it(!) Radloff & Helmreich: those who were considered best suited to working under water could also walk on it(!) (Russian) space program:stress test requiring a group of candidates to drive a small car cross-country (Russian) space program:stress test requiring a group of candidates to drive a small car cross-country Select crews, not just individuals Select crews, not just individuals