Cowboys In the Sky

Controlled risk is fulfilling. Just ask a man who conserves 50 story buildings daily.

By PT Staff, published on March 01, 2006 - last reviewed on October 11, 2006

Death wish may be the first thing that comes to mind when you see a window washer scrubbing a skyscraper. Even behind the safety nets of a secure observation tower, most people hate looking down the face of a high-rise. So how does a Chrysler building worker shelve his fears at 1,300 feet?

Maybe he's like James Banta, a New York City architectural conservator, who has no fear of heights. On a typical day at work, Banta rappels down 50-story buildings.

Thrill-seeking and risk-taking behavior has been identified in kids as young as 2 years old. Banta was climbing high trees at a young age, and in his youth he was rock-climbing sheer cliffs.

A person is apt to take risks when he or she feels in charge of a situation. Flying may be safer than driving, but people feel much safer behind the steering wheel. A sense of control also buoys high-rise workers.

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Adam Goodie, a psychologist who studies risk-taking at the University of Georgia, says that such a daredevil is likely to be scared the first time he scales the heights. But after repeated experiences, he may grow accustomed to dangling off a skyscraper. Banta agrees: "I was scared in the beginning, but I've become immune. Still, if the wind is blowing, I don't feel that sense of control."

And what about the Evel Knievels who take such risks as forfeiting safety gear altogether? "Veterans don't bother with safety gear. They've done it so many times without incident," Goodie says. Then again, the ones who've had an incident don't work there anymore.