Tereza—thanks for your reply. I agree that an interdisciplinary team would be great to address such a diverse set of issues! (Basically any topic worth studying in human biology, culture, and civilization will be relevant somehow to human life in confined environments.)
I guess one key contextual variable is whether we’re talking about relatively ‘short-term’ missions (e.g. weeks to months, such as rocket trips to build a moon base), or relatively ‘long-term’ missions (e.g. sheltering underground for a few decades after a nuclear war, building a mars colony for a few years, or undertaking a ‘generation-ship’ voyage to another star system). For the short-term missions, it might be prudent to minimize sexual contact, relationships, and reproduction, to reduce friction and promote mission focus. But for longer-term missions (decades or generations), it would be necessary to encourage relationship formation, parenting, etc.
Hello Geoffrey, I apologise for the delayed response; I’ve been travelling recently, but responding to your comment has been on my mind.
You bring up some insightful points that align with my current findings. I agree that the distinction between short-term and long-term missions is crucial when discussing interpersonal relationships in confined environments.
For the short-term three-month confinement project I’ve been planning, I’ve chosen to minimise the emphasis on encouraging sexual contact. This approach is taken primarily to maintain the focus on the mission objectives. Nevertheless, the provision of private single bedrooms allows for individual personal needs to be met, if desired.
As you pointed out, when it comes to long-term missions—extending over decades or even generations—the equation changes significantly. It would be necessary to consider relationship dynamics amongst the adult crew and the unique requirements and complexities of raising children in such an environment. This introduces a whole new set of variables to consider, including education, socialisation, and overall development from infancy to adulthood.
Thanks again for your comment, I would be happy to chat more about the topic if you felt like it! Tereza
Tereza—thanks for your reply. I agree that an interdisciplinary team would be great to address such a diverse set of issues! (Basically any topic worth studying in human biology, culture, and civilization will be relevant somehow to human life in confined environments.)
I guess one key contextual variable is whether we’re talking about relatively ‘short-term’ missions (e.g. weeks to months, such as rocket trips to build a moon base), or relatively ‘long-term’ missions (e.g. sheltering underground for a few decades after a nuclear war, building a mars colony for a few years, or undertaking a ‘generation-ship’ voyage to another star system). For the short-term missions, it might be prudent to minimize sexual contact, relationships, and reproduction, to reduce friction and promote mission focus. But for longer-term missions (decades or generations), it would be necessary to encourage relationship formation, parenting, etc.
Hello Geoffrey,
I apologise for the delayed response; I’ve been travelling recently, but responding to your comment has been on my mind.
You bring up some insightful points that align with my current findings. I agree that the distinction between short-term and long-term missions is crucial when discussing interpersonal relationships in confined environments.
For the short-term three-month confinement project I’ve been planning, I’ve chosen to minimise the emphasis on encouraging sexual contact. This approach is taken primarily to maintain the focus on the mission objectives. Nevertheless, the provision of private single bedrooms allows for individual personal needs to be met, if desired.
As you pointed out, when it comes to long-term missions—extending over decades or even generations—the equation changes significantly. It would be necessary to consider relationship dynamics amongst the adult crew and the unique requirements and complexities of raising children in such an environment. This introduces a whole new set of variables to consider, including education, socialisation, and overall development from infancy to adulthood.
Thanks again for your comment, I would be happy to chat more about the topic if you felt like it!
Tereza