ABSTRACT
Exploring behavioral dynamics in relation to aesthetics in an extreme environment is a rare opportunity. The situation of astronauts in microgravity, or more informally, outer space, enables us to focus on special human problems. Moreover, it allows us to examine the psychological and social implications that are derived from these dynamics. The conditions of constant emergency for crewmembers on board the International Space Station (ISS), the confined environment, and the microgravity effects cause heavy stresses that make astronauts more sensitive and vulnerable. Interpersonal relationships are altered and the harmony of social interaction may be seriously compromised. The culturally unique aspects of various crew members may also be important. For a perceptive examination of psychological and social effects of isolation during space missions, see Bluth (1985); and, more generally, Katz (1985).
