Adventure as a planned activity stimulates the senses, engages the brain and often tests physical limits. It often requires intense focus and concentration in situations where a mistake can result in injury or death. Adventure demands that all one’s worries and concerns as well as hopes and aspirations are put aside to enjoy the moment. This enjoyment can be felt as fear and exhilaration, pure freedom, or even a sort of personal transcendence. For some people, adventure exists in a flow state where “a level of involvement such that consciousness at hand and the doing of it blend, that action and awareness become indistinguishable” (Mitchell, 1983, p.154).
In the case of sensation seeking, adventure usually involves the release of adrenaline, which triggers a feeling of tremendous thrill and release that can become addictive to some people. In today’s culture, these activities are seen as challenges and escapes, and that is why adventure has become a highly regarded and sought after aspect of society.
However, adventure is not solely dependent on unique sensations and physical strain, as raising children and maintaining a marriage are certainly included. In this respect, adventure is an experience that goes beyond the norm of everyday life into the area where ”complete confidence and competence (do not) reign” (Quinn, 6). These types of adventures may be just as difficult as a physical test, but the challenge lies not so much in one’s strength and corporeal ability, but in one’s spirit and intellectual proficiency.
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