Psychology of Space Exploration
cross-cultural collaboration in research should be considered mandatory to pre-
vent ethnocentrism in design and interpretations. Such collaboration, although
often challenging, might provide research results that are more easily accepted and
applicable across national agencies. Rigorous theories and thorough methodological
designs are prerequisites for progress in the field. In chapter 3, Sheryl Bishop points
out that one key methodological and validity issue is the added value of utilizing
consistent measures across various expeditions, allowing a more valid comparison of
individuals and teams across environments, including space. With awareness of this
problem, researchers in the last several years have tended more often to use a com-
mon set of measures that facilitate the comparison of results across studies. While
this is a positive development, potential cultural bias in the assessment methodol-
ogy must not be overlooked. For example, J. B. Ritsher has emphasized that cultural
differences may affect the accuracy of methods for detecting distress in spaceflights,
so specific methods will not work equivalently.^3
Robust and sensitive assessment methods for monitoring behavior and health
in space are crucial for obtaining a high quality of research, but also for the early
detection of behavioral health problems. Improved prediction, prevention, and
treatment of distress will improve the safety of international long-duration space
missions. With regard to both prevention and treatment, the development of coun-
termeasures designed for autonomous crews become more important as we prepare
for much longer exploration-class missions to Mars and beyond. One example is the
development of a computer-interactive video countermeasure technology for the
prevention and treatment of depression, and another is a program for conflict res-
olution under the leadership of Dr. James Carter, Harvard–Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center. This countermeasure has a number of features that appear to make
it quite acceptable for astronaut use on a mission—using the astronaut’s famil-
iarity and comfort with computer technologies, supplying confidentiality because
the astronaut can work through the program in the privacy of his or her quarters,
teaching coping methods, and focusing on prevention and early intervention to
avoid having problems spiral out of control. Evaluation and comparisons of this
and other innovative countermeasures in multinational contexts represent impor-
- J. B. Ritsher, “Cultural Factors and the International Space Station,” Aviation, Space, and
Environmental Medicine 76, no. 6, supplement (2005): 135–144.