Dark Side of Personality and Extreme Sports. Case of skydivers

Aim of the study The study aimed to identify the personality traits of skydivers from the Dark Side of Personality model. Subject or material and methods To identify the Dark Side of Personality traits of 40 Polish skydivers (M age = 26.70, SD = 7.80) and 42 low-risk sport athletes (controls, M age = 25.50, SD = 6.60), several scales were used. These were the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM), Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P), Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ), and Mach-IV Questionnaire. Results The skydivers group had a significantly higher mean of Admiration, Boldness, Positive impulsivity and Sensation seeking than the control group. In addition, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted for the scales of the Dark Side of Personality. It revealed four basic factors: Impulsivity, Social Insensitivity, Planning action, and Thrill Seeking. Discussion All four factors discriminate between the study groups but the coefficient of discrimination is high for the Impulsivity and Thrill Seeking factors and lower for the other two factors. It means that Impulsivity and Thrill Seeking are probably the most important factors in understanding extreme sports in the context of the Dark Triad of Personality. The search for new and powerful experiences, combined with a lack of control over one’s own behaviour are the main determinants of involvement in extreme sports. Conclusions The results obtained suggest that skydivers do not reveal pathological tendencies. Their participation in extreme sports may be an expression of normal personality and temperamental traits that do not interfere with everyday functioning.