Cast Away

• The winner of the reality TV show Alone Australia
  will need more than “survival skills” to succeed.
• They will also need to draw on a host of psychological strengths.
• Here’s what happens when you take away those social interactions, and some thoughts on who’s most likely to thrive.

Remind me, what’s Alone Australia?

• Over the coming days and weeks, they film themselves building a shelter, making fire, and finding food and water.
• Contestants were selected on the basis of having survival skills and a personality likely to be engaging on camera.
• Read more:
  Woman spends 500 days alone in a cave – how extreme isolation can alter your sense of time

Mental toughness is key

• Mental toughness is a group of personality characteristics originally identified in elite and successful athletes.
• Athletes higher in mental toughness tend to perform better.
• Can mental toughness be cultivated in the moment?
• When fatigued, mental toughness no longer predicts perseverance towards a difficult physical goal.

Combating loneliness is crucial

• Research highlights the difference between social isolation (lack of opportunity for social interaction) and loneliness (the distressing feeling that one’s social needs aren’t being met).
• A person can be socially isolated but not feel lonely or feel lonely even in the presence of others.
• Indeed, some people place high value on solitude and generally need less interaction to avoid loneliness.
• Even people who don’t prefer solitude can get creative about fulfilling social needs when people aren’t around.

How about awe and pride?

• But research also points to the potential benefits of positive emotions in this situation, such as awe and pride.
• And nature is a prime trigger of
  awe – the positive emotional experience when witnessing extraordinary things that are vast and complex.
• Awe is linked to a variety of beneficial outcomes, including higher self-reported wellbeing, physical health, critical thinking and humility.
• Specifically, savouring the moment is a documented strategy for intentionally increasing the experience of positive emotions such as awe and pride.

Are you a future Alone Australia winner?

• If you’re thinking of applying for future seasons of Alone Australia, you might be wondering if you have what it takes.
• You can develop mental toughness, your capacity to combat loneliness while socially isolated, and your ability to savour positive emotions such as awe and pride.