peter pan syndrome among mountain climbers. close interpersonal relationships aspect
TRANSCRIPT
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Agnieszka Skorupa, Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach, Instytut Psychologii
e-mail: [email protected]
Paweł Draga, Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego w Kraków
e-mail: [email protected]
PETER PAN SYNDROME AMONG MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS
Close interpersonal relationships aspect
Summary
Peter Pan Syndrome is a term introduced to psychology by Dan Kiley1 towards the end of the
twentieth century. Typical symptoms of this syndrome include: lust of freedom, chivalry and
courage in facing danger, despite that in everyday life situations a typical Peter Pan behaves quite
the opposite. Those who suffer 2 PPS are panic-stricken by the vision of maturity, as well as, they
suffer from narcissism and inability to create mature interpersonal relationships with the opposite
sex3. In modern society PPS could even be reffered to as a plaque. Nowadays people would rather
satisfy their need for fulfillment and egoism rather than put an effort to create a long-lasting
relationship with other human being4. It is apparent that mountain climbers are characterized by
abnormally high levels of PPS due to their courage and escapism projected during mountain
expeditions.
Authors conducted research aimed at diagnosing the level of PPS among mountain climbers.
Because of the lack of proper diagnostic methods to measure PPS four most important dimensions
of this syndrome have been distinguished: risk and sensation seeking, interpersonal relationships
creation, egocentrism and insight into one’s emotions. Every dimension was matched up with proper
diagnostic method. This article gives a closer insight into a broader scope of research on creation of
emotionally positive relationships among mountain climbers. Authors conducted a series of research
1 Kiley D. (1993). Syndrom Piotrusia Pana. O nigdy nie dojrzewających mężczyznach. Warszawa:
Wydawnictwo Jacek Santorski. 2 Abbreviation created from Peter Pane Syndrome used in whole tekst. 3 Brat Efraim (2007). Przezwyciężyć syndrom Piotrusia Pana - rekolekcje dla twardzieli. Kraków:
Wydawnictwo List; Miłuński Z. (2006). Piotruś Pan i jego szpan. Charaktery, nr 10 (117), 10-15. 4 Krzysztofowicz J. (2004). Dlaczego chcemy latać czyli o niedojrzałości. Miesięcznik Katolicki LIST, 12
(2004), 18-21; Brat Efraim (2007). Przezwyciężyć syndrom Piotrusia Pana - rekolekcje dla twardzieli. Kraków:
Wydawnictwo List; Cataluccio F. (2006). Niedojrzałość. Choroba naszych czasów. Kraków: Znak.
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research which was designed accordingly to a quasi-experimental model. 32 mountain climbers took
part in a research. This sample was matched with 32 non-alpinists participants.
After statistical analysis of results there is no sufficient evidence to support the claim that
mountain climbers have higher level of PPS to non-alpinists. As far as close interpersonal
relationships are considered results do not allow to claim that alpinists display higher levels of PPS
in that dimension. The only confirmed hypothesis is thatmountain climbers have lover tendencies to
include others into their own self when compared to non-alpinists (statistical significance p=0,01).
On the basis of obtained socio-demographical information there are some other noticeable
differences. Less mountain climbers than non-alpinists are in relationships and those relationships
last shorter on average.
Streszczenie
Syndrom Piotrusia Pana to termin wprowadzony do psychologii przez Dana Kiley’a5 pod
koniec XX w. Typowe przejawy tego syndromu to żądza wolności, rycerskość i odwaga w obliczu
niebezpieczeństwa, jednakże na co dzień, paniczny lęk przed dorastaniem i przyjęciem
odpowiedzialności, narcyzm oraz niezdolność do tworzenia dojrzałych relacji z płcią przeciwną6.
Stał się on wręcz plagą współczesnych ludzi, którzy częstokroć przedkładają własną samorealizację
i zaspokajanie egoistycznych potrzeb nad tworzenie relacji z drugim człowiekiem7. Zdaje się, iż
osobami odznaczającymi się wyjątkowym nasileniem SPP są alpiniści realizujący potrzeby
bohaterskości i ucieczkowości podczas wypraw wysokogórskich.
Autorzy przeprowadzili badania, których celem był pomiar natężenia SPP wśród alpinistów. Z
racji na brak narzędzia do mierzenia SPP, wyodrębniono cztery najistotniejsze dla tego konstruktu
dymensje takie jak: pociąg do ryzyka, tworzenie bliskich, pozytywnie zabarwionych relacji
interpersonalnych, egocentryzm oraz wgląd we własne emocje, do których następnie dobrano
narzędzia kwestionariuszowe umożliwiające pomiar konkretnych zmiennych. W niniejszym
artykule zostanie zaprezentowany fragment badań dotyczący relacji interpersonalnych tworzonych
przez alpinistów. Przeprowadzone przez autorów badania miały charakter porównawczy, zostały
5 Kiley D. (1993). Syndrom Piotrusia Pana. O nigdy nie dojrzewających mężczyznach. Warszawa:
Wydawnictwo Jacek Santorski. 6 Brat Efraim (2007). Przezwyciężyć syndrom Piotrusia Pana - rekolekcje dla twardzieli. Kraków:
Wydawnictwo List; Miłuński Z. (2006). Piotruś Pan i jego szpan. Charaktery, nr 10 (117), 10-15. 7 Brat Efraim (2007). Przezwyciężyć syndrom Piotrusia Pana - rekolekcje dla twardzieli. Kraków:
Wydawnictwo List; Cataluccio F. (2006). Niedojrzałość. Choroba naszych czasów. Kraków: Znak.
3
zaprojektowane według modelu quasi-eksperymentalnego, a udział wzięła w nich 32-osobowa grupa
alpinistów oraz 32-osobowa grupa nie-alpinistów wyselekcjonowana metodą doboru parami.
Otrzymane po analizie statystycznej wyniki całości badań nie pozwalają na udzielenie
jednoznacznej odpowiedzi na temat wyższego natężenia SPP u alpinistów niż u nie-alpinistów.
Wybrany ich fragment, który został poddany szczegółowym rozważaniom w niniejszym artykule
także nie pozwala na jednoznaczne stwierdzenie, iż alpiniści mają mniejsze tendencje do tworzenia
pozytywnie zabarwionych relacji interpersonalnych. Uzyskano jedynie potwierdzenie hipotezy, iż:
alpiniści mają mniejsze tendencje do włączania innych we własne ja niż nie-alpiniści (poziom
istotności p=0,01). Na podstawie informacji socjo-demograficznych widać jednak różnicę w ilości
osób przebywających w związkach (przewaga wśród nie-alpinistów).
“The adventure with inextricably risk and wild surrounding
is an longing imprinted into men’s soul”
Eldredge, 20038
Introduction
Mountains and mountain climbers are typically depicted in public discussions as something
significant, extraordinary, meaningful to culture and generally positive. This paper attempts to
present alpinism issues from a slightly different angle. Mountains and mountain climbers will be
analyzed from the perspective of the Peter Pan Syndrome. Consequently what appears
extraordinary on a surface after closer examination can turn out not to be so glamorous
Peter Pan Syndrome is a feature characterizing people who are lusting freedom, being
chivalrous and courage in facing danger, however, in everyday life they are panic-stricken by
maturity, as well as, they suffer from narcissism and inability to create mature interpersonal
relationships with opposite sex.9 PPS has become the plague in modern society. More and more
people are immature, would rather satisfy one’s own needs of fulfillment and egoism rather than put
in an effort to create long-lasting relationships with other human beings10
. In the literature one of the
main examples of those who are suffering from PPS are people involved in extreme sports including
8 Eldredge J. (2003). Dzikie serce. Tęsknoty męskiej duszy. Poznań: W drodze, s.17.
9 Brat Efraim (2007). Przezwyciężyć syndrom Piotrusia Pana - rekolekcje dla twardzieli. Kraków: Wydawnictwo List; Miłuński Z. (2006). Piotruś Pan i jego szpan. Charaktery, nr 10 (117), 10-15. 10
Brat Efraim (2007). Przezwyciężyć syndrom Piotrusia Pana - rekolekcje dla twardzieli. Kraków:
Wydawnictwo List; Cataluccio F. (2006). Niedojrzałość. Choroba naszych czasów. Kraków: Znak.
4
mountain climbing. It appears that mountain climbers are particularly prone to be Peter Pans, whilst
at the same time, mountains provide excellent 'Neverland'11
like setting.
Up till now there has been no research carried out on the subject of PPS among mountain
climbers. For the purpose of this particular research scope of PPS was divided into following
dimensions: risk and sensation seeking12
, creation of interpersonal relationships, ego-centrism13
and
insight into one’s emotions14
. This paper will provide a closer look into one dimension especially -
close interpersonal relationships crated by mountain climbers.
Origin of Peter Pan Syndrome
Puer aeternus, the saint boy, the eternal boy, those are terms introduced by C.G. Jung in
order to characterize people who have not completed development of aware self and are
disproportionately immature in comparison to their biological age15
. Good examples of puer
aeternus are two book characters: The Little Prince from the A.de Saint-Exupery book and Peter
Pan from the J.M. Barry story. The later gave name to psychological term.
On the ground of Jung’s conception and long-lasting research D. Kiley has created Peter Pan
Syndrome conception. It was depicted in a book entitled “The Peter Pan Syndrome”. Generally
speaking symptoms of PPS include: uncontrollable desire of freedom, chivalry and courage when in
danger, in contrast to irresponsibility, fear of growing up, feeling of loneliness, narcissism and
incapability of creating mature relationships with opposite sex16
. Kiley also distinguished seven
psychological features which dominate behavior of people suffering from the PPS, those are:
freezing of emotions, postponing decisions, social inefficiency, magical thinking, mother rejection,
father rejection, sex rejection. The emotional sphere in Peter Pan’s is locked up although in
childhood they have been rather sensitive children. With the passing of time they are bottling up
their feelings. Crucial life decisions pose problems for them. Their life goals are unclear. As time
11 Kopaliński W. (2001). Słownik symboli. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Rytm.
12 Studenski R. (2004). Ryzyko i ryzykowanie. Katowice: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego; Studenski R.
(2006). Pociąg do ryzyka. Charaktery. http://www.charaktery.eu/charaktery/2006/05/590/Pociag-do-ryzyka/
13 Jarasymowicz M. (2001). Czy jesteśmy egoistami? W: M. Kofta, T. Szustowa (red.) Złudzenia, które
pozwalają żyć (s.91-116). Warszawa: PWN. 14 Goleman D. (1997). Inteligencja emocjonalna. Poznań: Media Rodzina.
15 Jacobi J. (2001). Psychologia C.G. Junga. Warszawa: Szafa. 16
Brat Efraim (2007). Przezwyciężyć syndrom Piotrusia Pana - rekolekcje dla twardzieli. Kraków:
Wydawnictwo List; Miłuński Z. (2006). Piotruś Pan i jego szpan. Charaktery, nr 10 (117), 10-15.
5
goes by they begin compensating those problems through being permanently in action and getting
involved in endless number of activities. Because of their feeling of loneliness they are desperately
looking for close friends, however, they fail when it come to assessing who “real friends” are.
Magical tendencies in thinking are helpful in coping with their mistakes. SPP sufferers do not have
to show remorse and can easily blame others for their mistakes. Figure of their mother arouses
ambivalent feelings when they feel rejected by father. Because of difficult paternal bonds they have
problems with respecting authority. As far as sexual sphere is considered, they fear rejection which
is masked by “macho” etiquette or “raconteur erotomaniac” approach17
. Each of presented features
reveals itself in different cases with different intensity. In Kileys opinion “classical cases” appear
very seldom.
Mountaineering description
Mountain climbers or mountaineers are people who either professionally or for pleasure
climb high mountains, especially like the Alps, the Himalayas or the Andes. When the definition of
mountain climbing is considered there are two aspect which cannot be omitted. Mountain climbing
can be perceived as a sport or as a form of tourism, both of which bring serious consequences for
individuals' psyche. As a sport, mountaineering “draws people who are rather more interested in
one’s individual success than spectacular achievements in front of wide audience, […] it is a
discipline without podium of winners, there are no awards, you do it only for yourself.18
” Mountain
climbing creates an occasion to test one’s abilities as well as limitations, the social frame of
reference presents itself only after the end of expedition. In this paper mountain climbing is
considered as “sport for yourself”. As a form of tourism mountain climbing can be assigned into the
frames of two conceptions created by C. Henning19
: the escape theory and the instinct theory.
According to the former, journey is a way to escape from everyday life problems. It creates
opportunity to make sense of separation from the normal word, to change surroundings and a
lifestyle. The instinct theory treats tourism as the way of releasing primal instincts, atavistic
behaviors, inborn drives such as drive to explore or to wonder. Matuszyk claims that “journeys in
the same way like plays were used by people in order to free oneself of social norms and
17 Kiley D. (1993). Syndrom Piotrusia Pana. O nigdy nie dojrzewających mężczyznach. Warszawa:
Wydawnictwo Jacek Santorski. 18
Warmuz M. w rozmowie z Wielickim K. (2009). Praca razy talent plus wiara do kwadratu=SUKCES. Manko,
nr 6 (2009), 20-21. 19
Winiarski R., Zdebski J. (2008). Psychologia turystyki. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Akademickie i
Profesjonalne.
6
>>everyday life surrounding standards<<, escape from the reality, go to a different kind of reality –
into the ephemeral word of one’s dreams (the opposition to serious world of work).20
” Moreover,
during the journey tourists function in the so called 'adventure world'. In this world no rules from the
reality apply, self-awareness is lost. From this point of view mountain climbing provides an
opportunity to escape from mundane world around us, fulfill one’s need to practice sport and have
exciting adventures21
. What is more, it can be a reflection of human exploration inclinations, the
transgressive tendencies of human nature22
.
Peter Pan Syndrome among mountain climbers
As W. Eichelberger once said “most of the behaviours can be reduced to compensation
mechanisms that means doing something instead of something else.”23
Adults who are mountaineers
experience problems with proper functioning in the real word because of permanent escape from the
reality that they are in. They cannot find a partner who would accept them fully and enable to create
idyllic relationship. So they are functioning only in a mountain world, the only surroundings they
feel comfortable in24
. On the basis of above deliberations one can come to a conclusion that
mountain climbers have a lot in common with Barrie’s Peter Pan. There is no space in this article to
examine all analogies that could be drown between mountain climbers and PPS-like functioning,
hence the focal point will be directed on creation of close interpersonal relationships.
Interpersonal relationships aspect of PPS
Each of us is functioning in the social context, as well as, family context. The ability of
creation and maintaining close emotionally positive relationships is one of the crucial life abilities25
.
Moreover, previously distinguished psychological components of SPP which are: risk and sensation
seeking, egocentrism and insight into one’s emotions have the strong influence on the fourth
component - interpersonal relationships creation.
20
Matuszyk A. (2002). Przywództwo w grupie turystycznej. Folia turistica, nr 13, s.12. 21 Winiarski R., Zdebski J. (2008). Psychologia turystyki. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Akademickie i Profesjonalne. 22
Sahaj T. (2003). Antropologia filozoficzna we współczesnym sporcie i kulturze fizycznej. W: Z. Dziubiński
(red.) Społeczny wymiar sportu (s.125-132). Warszawa: Horizon. 23
Eichelberger W. (2000). Jak wychować szczęśliwe dzieci. Warszawa: Tu – Agencja Wydawnicza, s.34. 24
Mazurowska R. (2009). Ucieczka przed dorosłością. Moje zdrowie, nr 3(3), 62-66. 25
Compare: Griffin, E. (2003). Podstawy komunikacji społecznej. Gdańsk: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo
Psychologiczne.
7
It cannot be neglected that mountain climbers are capable of creating relationships. They
have high ability of maintaining relationships with members of their climbing teams. An opposite
behaviour would be extremely unadaptive. However, their emotional competences are insufficient
and have a strong influence on difficulties in creating and maintaining relationships with people who
are not connected with “the mountain world”. In order to create an emotional bond sharing one’s
feelings with others is a crucial issue 26
. Revealing emotions connected with mountains and
expeditions could be the perfect plain of communication with loved ones, however, it is usually the
most problematic topic for mountain climbers. Mountaineers admit that they like telling stories
about their achievements but are not enough capable of revealing their feelings27
.
According to researches people involved in high-risk sports, including mountain climbers,
have love level of prosocial attitude. They are selfish, intolerant, dispassionate and not friendly28
.
An axis of their life activity is a striving to long and frequent stays in the mountains. W can find the
gradation of desires from the Tatras through alpine like mountains to The Himalayas29
.
Unfortunately, more than once those desires stay in opposition to family best interest. “There are
even mountain climbers who prefer to go to an expedition than support their wives in advanced
stage of pregnancy.”30
The extreme case of incapability of creating and maintaining close
relationships occurs when mountaineering passion transforms into an obsession, the compulsion of
climbing. The bonds with “the world of lowlands” are being broken, there is an excessive tendency
to take risk, goals are more important than people, and the one’s individual life is put into the
greatest danger31
. Such behaviour, no matter whether highly intensified or not, is a proof of
immaturity of mountain climbers. As the famous polish psychiatrist Lubomira Szawdyn says
“mature person can function in both, dream world and normal reality. There should be no problems
with switching from one world to another without making any harm to ourselves and others. Those
26 Griffin, E. (2003). Podstawy komunikacji społecznej. Gdańsk: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.
27 Rusowicz B. (1992). Wszystko o Wandzie Rutkiewicz. Wywiad rzeka Barbary Rusowicz. Toruń-Piła: Comer &
Ekolog. 28
Kajtna T. i in. (2004). Personality in high-risk sports athlets. Kinesiology, 36(2004), 24-34. 29
Zdebski J. (1984a). Psychologiczne i społeczne uwarunkowania taternictwa. Kraków: Wydawnictwo
Monograficzne nr 20, AWF; Zdebski J. (1984b) Motywacje do uprawiania turystyki górskiej. W: Z. Kruczek, J. Zdebski (red.). Metodyka organizowania wycieczek i imprez górskich (s.3-9). Kraków: Kraj. 30 Ibidem, s.283 31
Twight M. (2008). Całuj albo zabij. Katowice: Stapis.
8
who are immature more easily function in a dream world, among fantasies or in addictions than in
the real world.32
”
Materials and methods
Results which are put forward below are the part of wider research project aimed at diagnose
of whole Peter Pan Syndrome intensity among active mountain climbers. This article will only
depict an aspect of creation and maintaining close interpersonal relationships. This aspect is also a
part of PPS. The research question is: Are mountain climbers less able to create close emotionally
positive relationships then non-alpinists?
Research model
The research was planned and carried out according to quasi-experimental model. The main
independent variable is the fact of being mountain climber. The main dependent variable
constitutes Peter Pan Syndrome intensity. In this research depended variable is the ability to
creation of close interpersonal relationships with people (compare Table.1).
Table 1. Variable indications.
Hypothesis
H1: Mountain climbers have more difficulties in creation of close emotionally positive relationships
than non-alpinists?
32
Krzemionka D. w rozmowie z Szawdyn L. (2006). I kto tutaj jest dojrzały? Charaktery, nr 10 (117), s.21.
Dependent variable Variable indication
interpersonal
relationships
level of supportive-protective
interpersonal style
scores on the scale 2 in SUI
questionnaire
cordiality level scores on the scale E1 in
NEO-PI-R questionnaire
tendency to including others in the self scores on the IOS scale
Independent variable Variable indication
being a mountain climber being/not-being mountain
climber
9
H1.1: Mountain climbers have lover level of supportive-protective interpersonal style than non-
alpinists?
H1.2: Mountain climbers have lover level of cordiality than non-alpinists?
H1.3: Mountain climbers have lover tendencies to include others in the self than non-alpinists?
Methods
Disability of creation emotionally positive close interpersonal relationships was measured by
three tools: Inclusion of Other In the Self Scale (IOS) by Arthur Arona, Elaine N. Aron and Danny
Smollan33
, Interpersonal Stances Scale (Skali Ustosunkowań Interpersonalnych SUI) by Jan M.
Stanik34
the scale 2 supportive-protective interpersonal style and Personality Inventory NEO-PI-R
by Paulo T. Costa Jr. and Robert R. McCrae35
the cordiality scale E1.
Sample characteristic
The sample of participants taking part in research was constituted by mountain climbers who
are members of Polish Mountain Clubs. Questionnaires were delivered to participants by two ways:
directly during the club meetings and through e-mail.
Returned questionnaires were selected due to length of climbing, intensity of sport activity and
the main achievements in this field. By both ways researchers obtained 60 answers, however, only
32 managed to met criterions.
Studies have comparative character so there has been selected other group (control group) of
non-climbers in comparison with the group of mountain climbers. Selection was a deliberate choice
which took into consideration sex, age and education level. In both groups there were 7 females and
25 males. Characteristic of groups are depicted in Table 2.
Table 2. Socio-demographical characteristic of respondents.
Mountain climbers Non-alpinists
Age (in years)
- mini.
- max.
23
76
22
78
33
Aron, A., Aron, E. N., Smollan, D. (1992). Inclusion of other in the self scale and the structure of interpersonal
closeness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(4), 596-612. 34
Stanik J. (2006). Zastosowanie wybranych technik diagnostycznych w psychologicznej praktyce klinicznej i
sądowej. Katowice: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego. 35
Siuta J. (2006). Inwentarz osobowości NEO-PI-R Paula T. Costy Jr I Roberta R. McCrae. Warszawa: PTP.
10
- average 44 45
Gender
- female number
- male number
7
25
7
25
Education level
- elementary education
- vocational secondary education
- high school education
- bachelor’s degree
- higher education
0
0
3
2
27
0
1
3
5
23
Marital status
- single
- married
- divorced
- widow/widower
15
15
1
1
7
24
1
0
Length of relationship (in months)
- mini.
- max.
- average
0
624
123
0
672
191
Results and data analysis
The first stage of data analysis was the testing of normality of variables distribution in
sample. It was carried out in statistic package SPSS by the test of distribution normality
Kołmogorow-Smirnow. Scores on the IOS scale did not undergone this part of analysis because of
extremely narrow possibility of answers which can be obtained. The test results are depicted in
Table 3.
The second stage of data analysis was the comparison of results from both groups in statistic
package SPSS. Variables: supportive-protective interpersonal style, cordiality and inclusion of
others in the self were analyzed by t-test for two independent groups (results are depicted in Table
4.).
Table 3. Normal distribution of variables in sample.
grouper*
Kołmogorow-Smirnow
statistic df statistical
significance
supportive-protective interpersonal
style
mc.
n-a.
0,094
0,137
32
32
0,20
0
0,13
5
cordiality mc.
n-a.
0,131
0,101
32
32 0,17
6
11
0,20
0
*m. – moutain climber group, n-a. – non-alpinists group
**scores accordanced with normal distribution are in bold
Table 4. T-test results for two independent samples.
* statistically significance results are in bold
**s.i.- statistically insignificance results
Directions of the hypothesis relation were fixed in advance. Due to that in the analysis of the
results only one-sided significance was taken into consideration. Obtained results enables rejection
or acceptation of hypothesis.
Hypothesis H1.1 is not accepted. Mountain climbers do not have lover level of supportive-
protective interpersonal style than non-alpinists.
Hypothesis H1.2 is not accepted. Mountain climbers do not have lover level of cordiality than
non-alpinists.
Hypothesis H1.3 is accepted. Mountain climbers have lover tendencies to include others in the
self than non-alpinists.
Verification of this hypothesises provides us only with partial answer to the main hypothesis:
Mountain climbers have more difficulties in close emotionally positive relationships creation than
non-alpinists? There is no clear explanation.
Discussion
Confronting the results of research with theoretical background we only obtained
confirmation of a claim that mountain climbers have lover tendencies then non-alpinists to include
others into their own self. That means they are less prone to perceive and describe themselves
through the prism of interpersonal relationships, they do not feel united with partners. According(in
t df
asymptote
statistical
significance
(both-sides)
one-sided
significance
supportive-protective interpersonal style -0,421 62 0,675 **s.i.
inclusion of others in the self -2,239 62 0,029 0,01
cordiality -0,591 62 0,556 s.i.
12
reference) to this dimension there is another interesting and significant observation. Among
mountain climbers less people are married or even remain in any kind of relationship; also the
average length of relationship is lower in that cohort among mountain climbers (compare Table 2.).
It may be ascribed to lover tendencies to include others in their self. However, results in either
supportive-protective interpersonal style scale or cordiality scale do not allow to conclude that there
are any significant differences between mountain climbers and non-alpinists. Mountain climbers
display positive emotions towards partners, they can be self-confident and positively resolute. The
task-orientation is easily combined with positive affection towards partners. There were no serious
problems with cordiality or positive attitude towards life and others observed.
Throughout all to all research carried out in the project there is no unambiguous confirmation
of the main propped thesis, so it cannot be claimed that mountain climbers suffer from Peter Pan
Syndrome significantly more than non-alpinists. Supposed causes of such state can be linked to: the
way of conducting the research, the specific sample or social changes in general (wide spread of
PPS in the whole society). There is also a possibility that mountain climbers do not suffer from Peter
Pan Syndrome at all.
It is important to give a closer look to potential obstacles in the research process. It is a
paramount to discuss here, some of the potential obstacles that could have impaired the research
results. Firstly, there is no proper PPS operationalization so the four main factors were distinguished
arbitrarily. Secondly, there is no reliable tool to measure PPS syndrome. Researchers used coherent
content scales, however, they might not be sensitive enough to measure PPS. Thirdly, one of the
most important aspects of PPS is an unawareness of one’s acts and their consequences, as well as,
unawareness of problems with maintaining irreproachable relationships36
. Answers given in
questionnaires are only declarations (like one’s own imagination of oneself) which do not always
correspond to actual behavior, or are distant from social perception of one’s acts. In order to avoid
this obstacle in future, relatives and close ones of mountain climbers could be included into
research. Of course it is extremely difficult from the practical point of view. An interesting issue is
statistical significance obtained in IOS scale. The Inclusion of Others scale is a projective method
which is free from limitations of questionnaires. It reveals conscious, as well as, unconscious
psychological processes37
. Finally, the insufficient control of socio-demographical variables could
36
Kiley D. (1993). Syndrom Piotrusia Pana. O nigdy nie dojrzewających mężczyznach. Warszawa:
Wydawnictwo Jacek Santorski; Mazurowska R. (2009). Ucieczka przed dorosłością. Moje zdrowie, nr 3(3), 62-66; Miłuński Z. (2006). Piotruś Pan i jego szpan. Charaktery, nr 10 (117), 10-15. 37
Aron, A., Aron, E. N., Smollan, D. (1992). Inclusion of other in the self scale and the structure of interpersonal
closeness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(4), 596-612.
13
also have been the factor which might have contributed to the failure in confirming of hypothesis.
Possibly more socio-demographical variables should have been taken under consideration during
design of the control group. Place of residence, income or the fact of having offspring can also
significantly impact on one’s behavior.
Participants in this researches are a highly specific group which is not always willing to
cooperate easily. The participants were selected from several alpine clubs. Unfortunately not all of
the clubs have excessive criteria which must be fulfilled before being accepted as a club member.
Mountain climbers in the research displayed only an average achievements in climbing . It is very
significant because as it was observed by P. Faher38
there are important differences in performance
and psychological characteristics between average and advanced climbers. Moreover, the final
sample was relatively quite small. Only 32 mountain climbers were taken under consideration out of
only 60 climbers who returned questionnaires even though they were send to couple hundreds of
people. Moreover, 32 people do not constitute sufficient sample to make meaningful generalizations.
additionally, those who have returned questionnaires are probably the most cooperative and sociable
mountain climbers. In such case PPS could not reveal itself fully. Climbers who are: egoistic,
unsociable and uncooperative would simply not fill out the tests.
All described above limitations could have had a significant influence on research results. In
spite of that there is also a possibility that mountain climbers simply do not suffer from Peter Pan
Syndrome. That would mean that climbing is simply a real passion which they are devoted to. This
passion would then not impact on social sphere and family relations to a greater extent than any
other hobby. Additionally mountain climbers would always be able to assess their physiological and
psychological possibilities adequately to climbing situation.
Conclusions
The personality profile of people involved in mountain climbing and in general the
personality profile of those who are involved in high-risk sports is still an unexplored subject of
modern psychology. Authors conducted wide-scale research aimed at examining of mountain
climbers' behavior in relation to Peter Pan Syndrome. This article presents only a selection of
research connected to the most important sphere of every human's life - meaningful interpersonal
relationships. This aspect is also one of the basic dimensions of PPS. Such nature of deliberation
leads to two kinds of implications. On the one hand, it leads towards intensification of deliberations
38
Feher P., Meyers M.C., Skelly W. A. (1998). Psychological profile of rock climbers: State and trait attributes.
Journal of Sport Behavior, 01627341, 19980601, Vol. 21, Issue 2.
14
about widespread immaturity, inability of maintaining long-lasting close interpersonal relationships
and the need of escapism in the view of over-stimulated modern world39
. On the other hand, it is a
prelude to further wide-spread research on the subject of people involved in high-risk activities.
Based on the literature of the subject, mountain climbers appear as people unable of
expressing their emotions, concentrated primarily only on themselves and their own achievements,
with tendencies to take the excessive risk instead of confronting everyday-life problems. They
escape from normality, are incorrigible dreamers living in the world of their fantasies spending
every single moment in the mountain 'Neverland'. The results of conducted research support the
conclusion that mountain climbers have lover tendencies to include others into their innerselves.
This tendency is rather meaningful, as far as, problems with closeness in relationship are concerned.
The research results do not confirm/substantiate great majority of thesis which were put forward so
it cannot be concluded that mountain climbers are creating less satisfying, not emotionally positive
close interpersonal relationships. Wider analysis which was excluded from in this article also does
not allow to confirm the main thesis either. Mountain climbers do not suffer to a greater degree from
Peter Pan Syndrome than people who are not involved in mountaineering. It can be assumed that the
good direction for future research is to use projective methods in order to avoid two phenomena:
repressing and denying which are inextricably linked with Peter Pan Syndrome.
No matter the actual causes of obtained research results, either too significant disrupting
factors , or mountain climbers indeed not susceptible to Peter Pans, further deliberations on
mountain climbers motivation and background of this activity should not be abandoned altogether.
Each mountain climber should find his own answer for questions like: To what degree mountain
climbing is the way to one’s fulfillment and self-development deep-rooted in one’s system of
values? Or maybe it is siply a way to fulfill egoistic dreams of little boys and girls living in
unrealistic 'Neverland'? To what extend is it a deliberated choice of exhilarating way of spending
one’s free time adequate to individual psycho-physiological capabilities or maybe it is ill-motivated
by the Peter Pan Syndrome hidden somewhere deeply inside? And most importantly to what degree
spectacular achievements are taking their toll on quality of close interpersonal relationships and
problems associated with their maintaining?
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