This was the most annoying thing about the film The Martian for me.
Everyone crows about the science, but I've not heard anything about the psychological trauma someone marooned and isolated on an alien planet for several months would go through.
I imagine it would be something on a par with the Dancing plagues of Strasbourg
While mostly glossed over, I believe there was some small nod to Watney being one of the psychological anchors of the original team (at least in the film, I don't recall if that was in the book). Him being an optimist that doesn't give up is just as important to his survival as his specific scientific skill sets that come into play. That said, I believe a lot of his sanity was preserved by hope. He believed in a non-negligible chance that he could be rescued. People that signed up and are living a situation where there's no real hope it will change might have a vastly different reaction over time. Then again, they would also have company, and that can make a huge difference.
People have in fact talked about these things. Including the science being great, the psychology being preposterous yet entertaining, and the disco being disco.
Everyone crows about the science, but I've not heard anything about the psychological trauma someone marooned and isolated on an alien planet for several months would go through.
I imagine it would be something on a par with the Dancing plagues of Strasbourg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_Plague_of_1518
But without the cheesy disco music.