Steve Taylor, a psychology lecturer at Leeds Beckett University, wrote in an article for Science Alert that some people may exhibit unusual or even violent behaviors at airports or onboard flights.
اضافة اعلانThese behaviors range from harmless actions—such as sleeping on the floor or practicing yoga in front of flight information screens—to dangerous acts like physical altercations or even attempting to open airplane doors mid-flight.
According to Taylor, such incidents have increased in recent years, leading to calls for stricter regulations on alcohol sales or even a complete ban on alcohol in airports and airplanes.
Why Do People Behave Differently at Airports?
Taylor suggests several psychological and environmental factors that contribute to this unusual behavior:
1. Anxiety and Stress
- Many travelers experience flight anxiety, which can lead them to act irrationally or rely on alcohol to cope.
- The noise and crowds at airports add to stress levels, making it harder to remain calm and rational.
2. Psychological Overload
- Psychological research shows that humans are highly sensitive to their immediate environment, and overwhelming stimuli—such as crowds and loud noises—can trigger frustration and anxiety.
- Stress and anxiety often lead to irritability and anger, with anxious individuals being more prone to emotional outbursts.
3. The Psychological Geography of Airports
- Airports are liminal spaces, meaning they exist between clearly defined places, blurring the lines of national borders and personal identity.
- Once travelers pass through security, they enter a "no man’s land," where the sense of place becomes ambiguous.
4. Distorted Perception of Time
- Airports disrupt our normal sense of time, as travelers are caught between different time zones and waiting for flights.
- The inability to manage time effectively reduces our sense of control, increasing stress and impatience—especially when flights are delayed.
5. Future-Oriented Thinking
- Travelers are often focused on their upcoming journey and the adventures ahead, which can make them more impatient and frustrated if obstacles arise.
6. Social Behavior at Airports
- Interestingly, airports can also foster positive social interactions. Strangers often share travel plans and engage in conversations they might avoid in other settings.
Conclusion
Airports create a unique psychological state due to their ambiguous sense of time and place, high stress levels, and overwhelming environments. This can lead to both negative behaviors, like anger outbursts, and positive ones, like spontaneous socializing.
