Personality Characteristics of BASE Jumpers
ERIK MONASTERIO, ROGER MULDER, AND CHRISTOPHER FRAMPTON
University of Otago
OMER MEI-DAN
University of Colorado
BASE jumping is an extreme sport,which is associated with significant risk of injury and death.
We aimed to determine whether BASE jumpers have different personality characteristics to
an age-matched, normal control population. An international population of BASE jumpers
was examined using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Mean age was thirtyfour
years; fifty-nine (87%) jumpers were male; twenty-eight (41%) jumpers had sustained
a significant injury. A substantial proportion of the BASE jumpers presented extremely low
scores in the temperament measure of Harm Avoidance (p < 0.001); the extent of which has
not been reported in any other population.