Study: Excessive proximity in isolated teams like space crews can fuel conflict, mistrust

Excessive proximity could fuel conflict and mistrust in isolated teams such as space crews, according to the findings of a new study from two Swiss universities released Monday. The study, from the University of Zurich and the University of Bern, examined how conditions of space missions—months of isolation, confinement, and stress—affect team dynamics.

Antarctica research

During a 10-month overwintering mission at Concordia Station in Antarctica, 12 crew members completed questionnaires at four different points while wearing sensors that recorded when and how long they were in close proximity. The findings revealed that people with more frequent contact with other team members were more likely to report conflict, mistrust, and reduced performance.

Tensions increase

"In small teams under extreme conditions, more contact doesn't automatically equate to social support, but can actually increase tensions," said Jan Schmutz, a psychology professor at Zurich. The sensor data also showed that the team increasingly divided into subgroups, with crew members seeking out people who shared the same language or nationality.

Future implications

The study is considered significant for future long-duration space missions, as well as for other extreme environments such as submarines, offshore oil platforms, and remote research stations. "The results show how important it is to identify social dynamics early on and provide teams with targeted support," Schmutz added.