Achievement Motivation and Adjustment in Members of Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica

Twenty-six members are selected to be a part of Indian Scientific Expedition for stay in Antarctica for 16 months in physically challenging, harsh yet adventurous and socially restricted environment. The study highlights the centrality of the need for achievement which influences adjustment of expedition members to harsh climatic conditions. Achievement motivation was assessed in a sample of Indian male expedition members (n=248) in the age group of 22 to 56 years on semi-structured Performa, Sack’s sentence completion test, Multidimensional Personality Inventory and interviews from 1998 to 2008. Results revealed that positive personality characteristics such as high enthusiasm, adaptability, optimistic future orientation and determination and need for achievement, success, high status and monetary compensation influence adjustment and for joining Indian expedition teams motivate people.