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There you are, driving across a bridge spanning a deep ravine, when suddenly you sense an urge to drive off it. Yet you’ve no desire to kill yourself.
Believe or not, this feeling now has a name. In a research study published last month in the Journal of Affective Disorders, a team from Florida State University’s psychology department explored this freaky feeling and dubbed it high-place phenomenon.
“We were talking one day in a lab meeting and some of us had experienced it,” recalled psychology doctoral student Jennifer Hames. But when the lab searched the psychology literature, they could find no mention of it. “So we thought, What a great study!”
It could, they thought, shine light on one of Freud’s ideas, that some people have a “death wish,” and that some suicides are purely impulsive, absent any sign of depression or even sadness.
Hames and her colleagues surveyed 431 college students, asking them about urges to jump from high places and thoughts of suicide. They also assessed the students’ levels of depression, and their sensitivity to anxiety. That doesn’t mean how anxious they are; it means how sensitive they are to the physical effects -- faster heart beat and shortness of breath -- that accompanies anxiety. Those physical sensations can themselves be interpreted as dangerous.
About a third of the sample said they’d felt the urge to jump at least once. People who had thought of suicide were more likely to say yes, but over 50 percent of those who said they’d never considered suicide experienced the phenomenon, too.
When the results were correlated, the team arrived at the following, admittedly somewhat speculative, scenario: Imagine a person with high anxiety sensitivity. She leans over a ledge of the Grand Canyon. In super fast reaction to her physical sensation of anxiety, her survival instinct forces her away from the edge. Yet when she looks at the ledge, she sees it’s sturdy. There was never any danger. Her brain tries to process an answer to the question “Why did I back up if it was safe?” A logical answer is that she must have been tempted to jump.
In other words, Hames explained, people misinterpret the instinctual safety signal, and conclude they must have felt an urge to leap. Hence the study’s title: “An Urge to Jump Affirms to Urge to Live.”
Pauline Wallin, a psychologist in private practice in Camp Hill, Pa., thinks Hames might be onto something, but also suggests that we think about leaping from a high place for the same reason 13-year-girls like going to Halloween haunted houses -- for the thrill, and as practice “for not buckling under to fear.”
Hames is now planning further research to find out if "high place phenomenon" holds up. One starting strategy might be, she said, to take a bunch of students to the top of a high parking garage, have them lean over the edge, and measure their physical signs of anxiety.
Presumably extra credit will given.
Do you ever get a strange urge to drive off a bridge, or jump off a cliff? Tell us about the last time you remember it happening. You can discuss this story -- and others like it -- on our Facebook page.
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Leave a Comment:
Oh, come on. Poe named it years ago in his short story The Imp of the Perverse.
Interesting study. I've had this disconcerting urge many times. It's why I often avoid heights - not because I'm afraid of heights, per se, but because I'm afraid that I am not afraid of heights.
"
We stand upon the brink of a precipice. We peer into the abyss—we grow sick and dizzy. Our first impulse is to shrink from the danger. Unaccountably we remain. By slow degrees our sickness and dizziness and horror become merged in a cloud of unnamable feeling. By gradations, still more imperceptible, this cloud assumes shape, as did the vapor from the bottle out of which arose the genius in the Arabian Nights. But out of this our cloud upon the precipice's edge, there grows into palpability, a shape, far more terrible than any genius or any demon of a tale, and yet it is but a thought, although a fearful one, and one which chills the very marrow of our bones with the fierceness of the delight of its horror. It is merely the idea of what would be our sensations during the sweeping precipitancy of a fall from such a height. And this fall—this rushing annihilation—for the very reason that it involves that one most ghastly and loathsome of all the most ghastly and loathsome images of death and suffering which have ever presented themselves to our imagination—for this very cause do we now the most vividly desire it. And because our reason violently deters us from the brink, therefore do we the most impetuously approach it. There is no passion in nature so demoniacally impatient, as that of him who, shuddering upon the edge of a precipice, thus meditates a Plunge. To indulge, for a moment, in any attempt at thought, is to be inevitably lost; for reflection but urges us to forbear, and therefore it is, I say, that we cannot. If there be no friendly arm to check us, or if we fail in a sudden effort to prostrate ourselves backward from the abyss, we plunge, and are destroyed."
Ledges don't look "sturdy" to me, and I've never felt like jumping off one either.
Quatermass,
Good one. Indeed one of my favourite authors of all time.
Nothing like stepping off into the air- skydive, BASE jump -and live to do it all over again!
Interesting, I've never felt that urge.
Hot-in-Miami:
Neither have I. But looking at your lovely cameo, I feel urges of a different, more pleasurable nature. . .
I think they are missing it because the urge comes in other forms. Such as I often get the urge to drive my into a tree or pole or jump out of a moving car, no ledge just a stange urge to do these things. I would bet if asked so do the people who had the urge to jump. Now explain that!
I've never felt the urge to jump, but if I'm holding a cell phone or camera (basically something somewhat expensive) I get a strong urge to throw it off the edge. Fortunately for my bank account, I do not.
Of course when I had my chance to jump off a building... I truly didn't have that urge. I jumped of course...and will never do it again...but I can say - I didn't look down at any point in time. Not before the preperation, not during the outfitting, not during the walk to the edge, and not even on the way down.
I agree with DC. I've felt the strange urge to drive off a bridge, but I've also felt the strange urge to cross the median toward oncoming traffic. When I was young I used to get the idea to run onto the highway (it was just down the street). I don't think it has anything to do with safety signals. It's definitely not about suicide. I thinks it's more of the thrill and just curiosity of what it would feel like. I don't think it has anything to do with high place in particular either. I'm not sure how they came to their conclusions, but I don't feel like they explain my feelings at all.
I've also had that urge to jump from something relatively high or throw my cell phone like someone above mentioned. I also get that 'push myself back' urge in high places but I always feel it is more like "What if this railing gave way? What movements would I haveto do to avoid falling?" This happens to me even looking out a window in a high hotel. Irrational yes because I know the building is sturdy but that 0.00001% of a chance still sneaks into my mind :)
Not only have I felt the urge several times in my longish life, I've tried to explain it to people who often give me tentative looks as if concerned for me. I've NEVER been suicidal or anything like that. Just noticed one day in college back in the 80's, while standing on the 3rd level of an open-air commons area, that I started thinking "what if I jumped onto the lights (that were at various heights)? Could I make it down without dying?" Kind of creeped me out, but then it's happened again since. Also, I think because of this, I'm terrified of heights unless I'm fully surrounded. Planes, rollercoasters = fine. A ride where my feet dangle = HORRIFYING!
This is so cool to find out that I am not alone in having these thoughts. I have never, ever been what I would consider depressed or suicidal. However, I am 52 years old and have had these thoughts for years, out of the blue.
And it is not just about jumping from high places, but as one other poster here says, I have also had sudden urges to drive off a bridge or drive my car into oncoming traffic or into a tree. The thoughts are fleeting, and obviously have never overwhelmed me enough to act upon, or I wouldn't be here.
Now that I see that some other humans have these same thoughts, it is kind of creepy in an otherworldly way. Makes me wonder if there is something ingrained in us, or some supernatural force at play that would cause these thoughts. And it makes you wonder about all the "unexplained" suicides, because you obviously can't ask those people if they had the same weird urges, and just this once, acted on them!
It's Spring, it must be time for grant money renewal!
Florida state is one of the best schools for both forensics and psychology. At least when they need an experiment to do its something that people are curious about and not injecting rats with something to see how long they live
I was told that if you look out of a bridge to where the water is flowing away, then you're less likely to jump. If you're facing toward the water as it rushes under the bridge, you'll have the sensation that you and the bridge are falling.
It seems to do that for me. Furthermore, I've an inner ear problem, so I stay away from anything that makes me dizzy.
These are called 'suicidal thoughts"
Where's my check?
"Presumably extra credit will given. "
Now we need a study to tell is WTF this means and why it's a sentence.
I'd like to see if there is a correlation with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. When I used to belong to an OCD group this seemed to be really common among the members. It was classified under the horrific images and ideation sub-category.
I just watched a program ("Obsessed") where one of the subjects' OCD manifested very similarly. She was plagued by constant feelings of wondering what it would be like to run someone over with her car, or walk up to someone on the street and punch them.
I have mild OCD symptoms, myself. The symptoms started when I was very young, but were much, much worse then. They have gradually decreased over the years, to the point where I rarely notice them, and they certainly don't interfere with my daily functioning.
The woman's description of her "strange thoughts" was very familiar to me. I have also had similar brief, fleeting thoughts about driving off a bridge, or throwing myself in front of a moving vehicle. Like the woman on the program, I am a decidedly not-violent person - I don't even kill insects, and I am traumatized by any type of violence I see or read about. I definitely think these types of thoughts can be OCD-related, in terms of acting as most OCD behaviors do - a way to relieve extreme anxiety. I also found out the hard way that certain medications used to treat OCD and/or anxiety symptoms can actually exacerbate those types of thoughts.
I have heard before that mistrust of heights signals mistrust of self. You're never sure if you're going to jump or not. This was an interesting piece.
I think it is curiosity of the unknown as discussed above in different ways. If you're climbing a mountain, etc., and you concentrate on what you're doing, these types of things don't enter the picture because of your efforts and enjoyment of achievement. Everyone has thoughts on many things; I would think that you could be normal and go through life and keep chuggin along.
LOL...she says next to get students up on a high parking garage and test them on the edge? wtf!... is she a complete idiot...it's already known we get these urges...what if one kid is half whacko...Aaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...splat and a lawsuit to match.....find something else to study you idiot woman. Maybe it's one of her urges to see someone jump!....then look down and say wow!
I wonder if there's any correlation of the jumping urge with dreams of flying. I've woken up after a dream of flying with the excited feeling that "this is real I can fly!". Could part of our consciousness think "why not jump, I can fly"? while our objective mind says "stand back--you're nuts"....
That "voice" that tempts us to jump might be interpreted by some to be the Devil talking. These days many of us are over that take on motivation. Psychology and chemistry have become some of our gods. I like what others have mentioned, that Imp of the Perverse--a obsessive compulsive urge--some part of ourselves that rebels against what we are supposed to do and how we are supposed to act, a rebellion against mores, values, and social expectations. Some self sabotaging fear of doing something in conflict with being--by the "jump" command a recognition that "here's the chance to opt out of this confusing thing called life."
What surprises me about the college study was the percentage of students that have experienced this fear. When I have asked others about it, frequently having felt the urge myself and wanting to explore it, I find a fear to even discuss it. A fright that we can harm ourselves or others, or our hands aren't clean enough, or did we run over someone in that intersection, or did I turn off the stove before I left.......the irrational...that could have happened--the topic is so conflicting as to encourage us not to even think about it or talk to others. Some believe OC is brain chemistry, others that it is psychologics based on nurturing style. Was OC the muse sitting on Poe's shoulder? His writing the way he explored and dealt with it?
OCD = the dastardly demon of doubt, which cannot help embracing the perverse, the irrational. Let's call her, Mike, the Muse of Alternative Possibility. . .
Thoughts are just things--they come, they go, and we don't have to follow them.
@Quatermass2: who is the author, please?
I've suffered from this for maybe 15-20 years.
I'm terrified of heights, I get electric shocks that run up my legs, through my pelvis and out my groin (quite unpleasant) and this will occur even watching things on TV or just the thought of being at a height. In fact I have a fear that if I was caught on a ledge or similar I would freeze up, however I haven't been in a situation where I haven't been able to get beyond that.
I can't walk along those elevated walkways through forests. Ive walked the Sydney harbour bridge (footpath only) but I had to stare at the concrete directly in front of me and walk in the middle of the path. There is no way I could do a bridge climb.
That being said I could quite easily jump out of plane, I could probably even bungy without too much problem, however you will never get me out on the gantry to take the bungy jump. Flying in a Helicopter - No problem.
Apart from the electric shocks the other issue I have with heights is the desire to jump. Its almost magnetic, I feel drawn to it to the point where overcoming it can occupy my thoughts completely.
I just came in from sitting on the balcony of the 5th floor and for the 3 mins I was out there I couldn't relax at all, in fact I was conciously telling myself not to run and jump.
My Parents live on the 7th floor, 2 years ago I spent the weekend at their unit and the whole time I felt as though I was being drawn towards the balcony and was somewhat scared that I would wake up, run and jump. I was very very uncomfortable the whole time.
I am an avid snowboarder and I have to consciously not think about being up high on a chairlift, especially if I'm riding the lift down. If the lift stops I have to grab onto the lift and no one can talk to me, even if they did I wouldn't be listening I would be completely focused on not jumping. The old style chairs with the chain safety strap are basically a no go for me, I can only ride them if its 100% necessary.
The final wierd thing to add to the mix is that I am more able to deal with being up high if there are a lot of other things high around me. So being in the CBD Office building is much easier than being in an Apartment on a beach or being on a charilift through a cutting is much easier than out in the open.
While this phenom might never have been "explained" . . .
IT ALREADY HAS A NAME - and has had one for years . . .
it's called L'appel du vide. Translated from the French: Call of the Void.
Maybe I'm missing something but these researchers should have "Googled" before they published this article. Foolish and sloppy scholarship.