06/25/2023 07:00 (act. 06/25/2023 07:00)
Titanic, All, Everest: People give a lot for a thrill – often even their lives. ©APA/AFP, Portal
In the depths of the famous shipwreck of the “Titanic” or high on Mount Everest, maybe even in space – why do people keep looking for the risk and the kick?
For some people, the idea of such risky endeavors makes them restless and nauseous, while others seek out these activities and find the ultimate thrill in them.
They are willing to pay big money and take big risks, like the five people aboard the missing Titan submersible who were searched for days near the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic – in vain, as it turned out.
A “special risk appetite”
Whether it’s rich people for whom high ticket prices are not a problem, or people who save money for years – they all have a “particular risk appetite”. They actively look for this risk and see it as a kick, explains Berlin psychology professor Birgitta Sticher from the University of Economics and Law (HWR). “It’s also about the feeling of challenge and vitality. You can call it a personality trait. At the other extreme are people with a very strong need for security and control.”
be winner
These people take the risk of such ventures with the hope of emerging ‘victorious’. “For example, if you thought you couldn’t survive an excursion, you wouldn’t participate. I assume that most people who do something like this also believe in technology. A certain hope that everything will go well. Wealthy people may also want to show that they can do things with their money that others cannot.
Also, for some people, the motivation behind these endeavors may be an entry in the Guinness Book of Records, a souvenir photo, or simply personal self-affirmation. Others travel out of scientific curiosity and, in this way, have contributed to the exploration and measurement of the world and space, and therefore to scientific progress for centuries.
Space is becoming mainstream
In the past, it was mainly explorers, individually or in groups, who often organized and funded their own ventures. Thanks to improvements in technology, these exciting offerings have moved closer to the mainstream in recent years. There are now several companies that transport people who are not trained astronauts for shorter or longer trips to space, such as Blue Origin by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos or SpaceX by Elon Musk.
Private individuals are also making more and more flights into space. ©APA
British businessman Hamish Harding, who is also on board the “Titan”, had booked a short space trip with Blue Origin last year. According to the media, these trips are expected to cost around 30 million dollars (about 27 million euros). However, manned space travel is still considered technically extremely difficult and risky. Just a few months after Harding’s voyage, for example, a Blue Origin rocket crashed shortly after launch, fortunately there were no people on board.
A lot of money for a possible death
At around 8849 meters, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. According to initial estimates by the Nepalese Ministry of Tourism, more than 600 local climbers, guides and mountain porters have arrived this year.
In total, there are 18 official routes on Mount Everest. Hundreds dare to climb every year – there are real queues on the way to the summit. ©AP
At least 12 people have died trying to climb the mountain this year. For this undertaking, climbers must calculate tens of thousands of dollars.
Dive on the “Titanic”
The demand for excursions to the famous wreck of the “Titanic” is also very high. In 2021 alone, the company Oceangate Expeditions, which is behind the submersible “Titan”, hit the wreck six times.
The submarine “Titan”, which, for reasons still unclear, imploded when diving into the “Titanic” with five passengers on board. ©AP
In 2022, it was seven times, said the company’s head, Stockton Rush, in a lecture last year. A ticket will cost around $250,000.
Stockton Rust, head of Oceangate Expeditions, was on board the submarine “Ttan”, which was supposed to dive on the “Titanic”. ©APA/AFP
Harding is involved in the famous “Explorers Club” in New York, where explorers have gathered for over 100 years. In an open letter to its members, club president Richard Garriott of Cayeux wrote: “When I saw Hamish at the Global Exploration Summit last week, his excitement about this expedition was palpable. I know he was looking forward to doing research in this place. .” “We all share the fervent hope that the submersible will be found as soon as possible and that the crew will be safe,” said Garriott de Cayeux.