Did Huge Career Pressures Aid In Astronaut's Undoing?

New Scientist ^ | 2-7-2007 | Kathleen M Wong

[blam]

Did huge career pressures aid astronaut's undoing?

16:39 07 February 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Kathleen M Wong

The family of Lisa Nowak says her alleged attempt to kidnap and murder a woman she considered her romantic rival was 'completely out of character' (Image: NASA)

US astronaut Lisa Nowak's fall from grace – she is accused of trying to kidnap and kill a woman she considered a rival for the affections of a fellow astronaut – has raised a plethora of unanswered questions from a shocked public. Chief among them: how someone who passed the stringent psychological screening required to become an astronaut could have snapped like this.

But scientists aren't nearly as shocked as the general public. "It doesn't surprise me that this might happen occasionally," says psychiatrist Nick Kanas of the University of California in San Francisco, US, who studies astronaut behaviour on long-term space flights. NASA takes medical histories to screen for psychiatric problems that tend to run in families, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. But no battery of tests will reveal how well astronauts will cope with the ups and downs of daily life.

"Astronauts are very capable people, among the stars of our society. But they have changes in their lives, have issues with their spouses and kids just like you and I might," Kanas says. "They might be superhuman in their jobs, but not in terms of relationships and their potential for emotional problems."

'Out of character' Indeed, Nowak and her husband of 19 years separated a few weeks ago, according to a statement released by her family. The statement added, "These alleged events are completely out of character and have come as a tremendous shock to our family".

[Buck W.]

Sure this isn't Amy Fisher all grown up?

[martin_fierro]

psychiatrist Nick Kanas of the University of California in San Francisco, US, who studies astronaut behaviour on long-term space flights. NASA takes medical histories to screen for psychiatric problems that tend to run in families, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. But no battery of tests will reveal how well astronauts will cope with the ups and downs of daily life.
"Astronauts are very capable people, among the stars of our society. But they have changes in their lives, have issues with their spouses and kids just like you and I might," Kanas says. "They might be superhuman in their jobs, but not in terms of relationships and their potential for emotional problems."

Look who's angling to be a paid defense expert witness at trial.

[Dallas59]

Did Huge Career Pressures Aid In Astronaut's Undoing?

No...her poh poh...did it...

[indthkr]

"Did huge career pressures aid astronaut's undoing?"

No doubt. When she separated from her spouse, alarm bells should have been going-off in the NASA personnel management chain (assuming that they got wind of it).

[wideawake]

I doubt it. She had already achieved the pinnacle of her career - an actual space mission.

[napscoordinator]

The excuses are beginning...Ugh!!!!

[webstersII]

"Did Huge Career Pressures Aid In Astronaut's Undoing?"

It's not her fault. She couldn't help herself, she's not responsible, the stress and pressure did it, blah, blah, blah.

I bet it's really Bush's fault.

[Ben Mugged]

And now the kooky conspiracy theorists show up.

It was an office romance folks. Just that. I've seen both men and women do some really insane things resulting from an office romance.

Human nature......

[Publius6961]

Just about every first known crime I have ever read about has been characterized as "out of character", somewhere along the process to punishment.
If this is a valid "defense", then we might as well do away with all "first" crime altogether, give everyone a pass for the first crime, whatever it is, and execute them for subsequent ones.

Nice and simple.

I must have read, dozens of times, in both popular and academic works, that the true character of all human beings emerges under stress. I believe that completely.

[kinoxi]

The family of Lisa Nowak says her alleged attempt to kidnap and murder a woman she considered her romantic rival was 'completely out of character'

I'd like to hear the honest family one time...'Yeah that m**** f***** was evil bought time somebody locked his a$$ up.

[Stepan12]

I bet it's really Bush's fault.

Dennis Prager alluded to this phenomenom in discussing why so many young girls dress and act like sluts these days.

So called feminism has so made women work against their feminine nature that they will use avenues not barred to them to express their femininty; e.g., sluttish dress and fanaticism in romantic relationships.

While this is not justification for this it may be an explanation.

[OldFriend]

This astronaut was assigned to be the family support for the astronauts who died in the last shuttle disaster.

Anyone who has ever worked with profoundly grieved families knows that the stress can overwhelm the caregiver too.

She provided support for at least one year after the disaster.

Clearly this woman was in the midst of a nervous breakdown and there is not much one can do for someone like that until something gives.

I have profound sympathy for her and her intended victim.

As for the other man.......I don't know yet whether he is really involved or it was a figment of the imagination for the stalker.

[camle]

her lack of moral judgement did it. don't blame the job.

[Dallas59]

Just blame what's between her legs....And a mind that couldn't control it...

[Red Badger]

I wonder if she's a member of the 100-Mile-High Club?..........;^)

[nmh]

Bottom line is this, OTHER astronauts, male or female, did NOT behave this way. This woman is UNSTABLE. Other articles suggest her marriage was falling apart and it appears that she was desperately trying to create another relationship with a fellow astronaut. It wasn't the "pressures" of being a former astronaut. This is a woman whose gripe on reality was fading away.

[nmh]

"No doubt. When she separated from her spouse, alarm bells should have been going-off in the NASA personnel management chain (assuming that they got wind of it)."

Not necessarily.

Other people have failed marriages and don't act out in this way. I'd bet there are other people at NASA either divorced or going through a divorce that are NOT acting out in this way. This woman has ISSUES that she alone has created. Obviously she needs help but I do not expect an employer to be a mind reader. Where was her FAMILY? THEY should have noticed something odd going on with her.

[nmh]

"The excuses are beginning...Ugh!!!!"

Yup!

It's so predictable.

It's the way much of our society is - personally irresponsible. It's everyone else's fault but their own.

[nmh]

"I bet it's really Bush's fault."

Bingo!

Of course it is!!!

;)