A sociological study of sport parachuting.
Item
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Title
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A sociological study of sport parachuting.
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Identifier
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AAI9820515
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identifier
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9820515
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Creator
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Box, Gertrude Elaine.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Charles Winick
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Date
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1998
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Sociology, General | Recreation
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Abstract
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There are approximately 535,000 skydivers in 85 nations who make approximately 10 million jumps a year. Psychologists, psychiatrists and sociologists have found parachutists to be of superior intelligence, free from anxiety, lacking in defensiveness, socially deviant, self-confident, impulsive, hedonistic, thrill-seeking, free from health worries, rebellious, resourceful, willing to take consequences for their own behavior, stimulus addicts, with a trend toward disorganization, an essential desire for varied and different experiences, and a high level of abstract ability and creativity.;Popular and scientific literature was studied. Six parachutists were interviewed in depth. A questionnaire consisting of 50 questions was developed by the researcher, and distributed. 462 were returned.;A composite description of both genders was compiled, with gender differences in response to only 13 of the questions. Males were older, heavier and taller, had higher annual salaries, were younger at time of first jump, more likely to have additional competition training and to jump nude and barefoot. Females were more likely to be administrators, males to be engineers, males never and females rarely attended religious services, females generally live less than 10 miles and males 30 miles from the jumpsite, females tend to live in southern and males in plains areas, females prefer automatic and males prefer stick shifts on automobiles.;Our data confirm findings of other researchers on mental and physical well-being. Parachutists named 117 different hobbies, the majority of which involved social and physical activities; 296 respondents added comments to their surveys.;The rate of change in the sky-diving field is occurring with the same rapidity as in the computer field. When the study was begun in 1993, round chutes were still used, para-surfing and wind-tunnel parachuting were novelties, and Cessna 152s were the main airborne vehicle for jumping. In 1997, a person can only jump with a round chute if he or she owns one, para-surfing and wind tunnel surfing are common, and 'jump the jet' is a common slogan. Currently, a person is not considered an experienced jumper until and unless he or she jumps from twin engine planes, turbo planes, inverted planes, helicopters, blimps, and gliders.;Insurance for parachutists was unobtainable until April 11, 1996. Now companies compete for the business.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
