Psychoanalytical view of extreme behavior of leaders using the example of the bathyscaphe "Titan"

Psychoanalysis of accidents

Abstract

Life in the modern world is not only about work, family, home and hobbies. It is also an emotional component in each area of life. Modern man is overloaded with the information field and external stimuli. An increased level of external anxiety has become the norm, not to mention the internal state, in which its own processes are taking place in parallel. Internal problems and unconscious conflicts that a person is unable to cope with on his own can push him to risky behavior so that he can relieve stress and get at least a temporary discharge. Such methods of discharge include extreme sports, including deep-sea diving. Such risks can provoke leaders and team members to rash actions and decisions associated with the loss of control over the situation, which often lead to tragic consequences. In this context, we can compare deep-sea diving with symbolic "unconscious dives" containing hidden meanings and motives. One such example of diving into the depths of the ocean, in my opinion, is the case of the bathyscaphe Titan of the OceanGate company, which ended in tragedy. In this paper, I consider this disaster from a psychoanalytic point of view, analyzing the history of the OceanGate company, its approach to the creation of deep-sea vehicles and its attitude to unsafe diving, the interaction of the leader of the OceanGate company Stockton Rush and the team on board the Titan at the time of the last dive, which led to the destruction of the vessel and the death of all crew members on June 18, 2023.