Experiencing flow, enjoyment and risk in skydiving and climbing
This article brings together findings from two separate ethnographic studies that explore the motivations, behaviours and experiences of those who voluntarily engage in high-risk activities. Focusing on Csikszentmihalyi’s phenomenology of enjoyment, and taking a particular interest in the psychological and experiential aspects of action, the accounts of skydivers and climbers are presented and discussed in relation to each of the components Csikszentmihalyi has identified as necessary for providing a deep sense of enjoyment. The aim of the article is to show how the concept of flow provides a useful framework for understanding the attractions of engaging in high-risk pursuits that are often overlooked. This contributes to an understanding of particular rural settings,specifically mountains and flying sites, as a backdrop for meaningful action.
The purpose of the model presented by Glance et al is to study the ‘contribute vs. free-ride’ dilemma present in organizations. This social dilemma is present on two intertwined levels, the managerial front and the base level of workers. This model also seeks to define a correlation (if one does exist) between worker turnover and productivity rates.