A Psychological Study of Extreme Sports

Extreme sports are those sports activities which are associated with a high degree of risk. Participants in such sports are exposed to an increased risk of accidents or mishaps, which may also lead to death. The examples of extreme sports include mountaineering at high levels, proximity flying, rope free climbing, extreme skiing, waterfall kayaking, and big wave surfing. The major reason for participants taking part in these sports is the adrenaline rush. However, from the medical perspective, the high or rush that is obtained from the activity does not come from the adrenaline generated in response to fear, but it is the result of increased serotonin, endorphins and dopamine levels as a consequence of physical exertion. This book contains some path-breaking psychological studies on extreme sports. It aims to equip students and experts with the advanced topics and upcoming concepts in this area of psychology.