Polar Expeditions

<p><em>Polar Expeditions</em> employs structural ritualization theory to show how rituals enriched the lives of crewmembers on 19 polar expeditions over a 100-year period. J. David Knottnerus identifies and compares failed successful and extremely successful missions in terms of participation in ritual practices and the social psychological health of crews finding that that social and personal rituals such as work practices religious activities games birthday parties special dinners or taking walks are extremely important in increasing crewmembers' ability to cope with the challenges they face including extreme dangers isolation restricted environment stress lengthy journeys and quite importantly the disruption of those practices that define our everyday lives. Besides contributing to our knowledge about polar expeditions this research yields implications for our understanding of ritual dynamics in other situations such as disasters refugee camps nursing homes traumatic experiences and a new type of hazardous venture space exploration.</p>