Not so risky business: The use of planning within rock climbing

Abstract

To understand precautionary behaviour within risk sport, the present study assessed participants’ (n=72) degree of planning for a rock climbing task and its impact on task performance. Participants with varying degrees of climbing experience were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (a) planning-inhibited, (b) planning, or a (c) control. Results indicated significantly (p<0.01) more planning behaviour by planning and control participants than by those who were planning-inhibited. Additionally, inexperienced participants reported significantly (p<0.01) more pre-task thoughts and mental preparation than experienced participants. Although climbing times were not significantly different among conditions, descriptively planning-inhibited participants climbed the slowest, while participants prompted to plan climbed the fastest. Results suggest that while participants appeared to engage in a degree of planning, the practice did not affect performance. Discussion concerns the use of planning as a precautionary behaviour in rock climbing.