Human Systems Integration Division @ NASA Ames

This chapter focuses on groups of people in polar camps, submarines, space capsules, and other exotic environments that are defined by the characteristics of isolation, confinement, and risk. At the same time that exotic environments are becoming more salient, behavioral research on groups in exotic environments has almost ground to a halt. The chapter considers certain barriers to further advancement in which people involved in such groups may view psychological research as useless or counterproductive. The exotic environments of yesteryear have changed substantially, and many new exotic environments are available for study. Social and organizational psychology has changed immensely, and many new developments can be taken into account. The chapter illustrates those two theoretical models, the ecological and the behavioral, that have evolved around isolation and confinement research. As group level phenomena are supplemented by organizational level phenomena, open systems theory may be put to good use.