The nature of the psychological phenomenon experienced by runners during participation known as the "runner's high" was investigated. The determination of a number of characteristics which differentiate runners who experience the runner's high from those who do not was initially attempted. Additionally, the effect of manipulation of association/dissociation cognitive strategies on perception of quality of the run and experience of the runner's high was studied. / Subjects were 60 male regular runners (average of at least four days per week, 30 minutes per day, for the past two months), average age 32 years. The runners had been running an average of 5.7 years, and had averaged 53.5 minutes and 6.8 miles per run for the past two months. Average number of days per wek running was 5.8 days. The majority (87%) of the runners described themselves as addicted to running, with an average of 1.5 years required for addiction to develop. / Most (46 = 77%) of the runners indicated they had experienced the runner's high, although 14 said they had never experienced it. Those runners noting a percentage of runs on which the runner's high was experienced reported that this phenomenon occurred on an average of 29.4% of their runs. / A descriptive categorization of the runner's high was offered, frequented by descriptions of floating, well being, effortlessness, euphoria, and power. Few of the runners, however, indicated any peak experiences. A high degree of physiological preparedness was cited as necessary for experience of the runner's high, and it was noted that it was not possible to predict if and when the runner's high would be experienced during a run. / Bivariate correlational analyses, stepwise multiple regression,and discriminant function analyses were conducted in assessing the relationship of dependence upon and commitment to running, laterality (right/left brain dominance), and training style to experience of the runner's high. Of particular interest was the relationship of laterality to the runner's high, due to reports of the runner's high as a right brain phenomenon. / Scores of the runners on a scale of addiction to running and length of time runners had been participating were both significantly related to experience of the runner's high. Multiple regression and discriminant function analyses, however, failed to yield results of value in attempting to predict experience of the runner's high. The absence of a significant relationship of two measures of laterality to experience of the runner's high was particularly noted. / The runners tended to employ the cognitive strategy of dissociation more frequently during their training runs, although they shifted frequently between association and dissociation. A simple characterization of the cognitive strategies of the runners could not be provided. / Results of the attempted manipulation of cognitive strategies (association/dissociation) during the next to last mile of the middle four of eight test runs of the subjects did not reveal any significant findings. It was suggested that a combination of the particular strategies used and the need for intensive training in use of specific strategies served as important factors in the lack of obtaining significant findings. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 41-02, Section: A, page: 0588. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1980.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74084 |
| Contributors | SACHS, MICHAEL LEO., The Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 204 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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