Psychology of Space Exploration
interacted well and achieved all mission goals.^49 On the other hand, reports from
space analogs such as offshore oil rigs, naval vessels, and Antarctic bases indicate
that interpersonal problems related to mixed-gender crews had a negative effect on
crew performance.^50 Stuster notes that “on closer inspection, however, the prob-
lems appear to have been not directly attributable to mixed crews, but rather to the
behavioral consequences of immaturity, faulty personnel selection, and inadequate
pre-mission training for both male and female members of the crews.”^51
Another approach is to consider how gender heterogeneity affects factors
closely related to the development of cohesion. Recall that Bishop’s conclusion
after reviewing literature from extreme environments was that the presence of
women in mixed-gender crews appeared to promote crew behaviors that improved
its functioning.^52 Likewise, Endler’s finding that women employ a more interper-
sonal and caring approach when dealing with stress may significantly improve
the interpersonal atmosphere within a crew, improving interpersonal cohesion by
bringing members closer together.^53
CONCLUSION
The success of future human space missions rests squarely on the shoulders
of the men and women who will venture into space for months, possibly years, at
a time. In this chapter, we argued that despite inherent differences in the behav-
iors and abilities of men and women, mixed-gender crews have performed effec-
tively, both in space and in similar settings like Antarctica. In most cases, teams
composed of both men and women function as well as or better than all-male
teams. We also supported the conclusion that crew interactions, specifically the
level of cohesion within the crew, are extremely important to the crew’s overall
performance. Available evidence, albeit limited in scope and size, indicates that
- Kanas and Manzey, Space Psychology and Psychiatry, p. 77.
- Stuster, Bold Endeavors, p. 177.
- Ibid.
- Bishop, “Evaluating Teams in Extreme Environments”: C17.
- Endler, “The Joint Effects of Person and Situation Factors”: C25.