Understanding Survival

Understanding Survival: How and Why Some People Make It Through Extreme Situations

Adapted from The British Psychological Society “Survival psychology: the won't to live”

Stories about people who survive dangerous situations always grab our attention. Think of climber Joe Simpson, who, despite being frostbitten and starving, dragged himself for four days with a broken leg to reach his camp in Touching the Void ,or consider the Uruguayan rugby team that survived a plane crash in the Andes by eating the bodies of those who had died, as told in Alive. There are many stories of people surviving terrible conditions, like prison camps or accidents, and each one makes us wonder about the strength and courage required to overcome such challenges.

We often admire survivors, thinking they have a special quality that helps them make it through when others don’t. This special quality is sometimes called the "will-to-live." In 1945, the British Navy studied survival and found that having the will-to-live was crucial for survivors.

Researchers have tried to figure out what makes some people survive while others don’t. Some theories focus on personality traits, but it might be that we’re asking the wrong question. Instead of asking why one person survives when others don’t, we should ask why so many people die when they don’t have to. It might not be about the will-to-live but more about why some people give up too soon.

For example, in 1994, a small plane crashed in the Sierra Nevada mountains. One passenger, who was injured but not seriously, survived by walking for 11 days in the snow to get help. Meanwhile, his two companions, who had minor injuries, died. Why did they give up when survival was possible? This question is central to understanding survival psychology.

Some experts believe that people give up because they become very depressed or feel hopeless. In World War II, this was called "give-up-itis." This feeling of giving up is also seen in people stranded on lifeboats or in prison camps. The famous sailor Nick Moloney described giving up completely after a tough ordeal at sea, saying that he mentally lost the will-to-live.

This "giving up" behavior has been observed in other situations too. In his book The Jungle is Neutral, Freddy Spencer Chapman described how some soldiers in the jungle died not because of physical issues but because they couldn’t adapt mentally to their harsh surroundings. He argued that it was their attitude, not the environment, that led to their deaths.

In 1991, a Canadian military plane crashed in the Arctic. Out of 18 people, 5 died, and 13 were rescued after 4 days. Two of the dead were in good condition and had warm clothing, so why did they die? The answer might be related to how their minds were affected by the stress of their situation.

Research shows that when people are under extreme stress, their thinking and decision-making can become impaired. This is known as cognitive paralysis. For example, during the 1985 airplane fire in Manchester, some passengers froze in their seats and didn’t try to escape. Studies have shown that in emergencies, people often experience cognitive paralysis, where their ability to think clearly and act quickly is reduced.

In survival situations, people also have trouble focusing and making decisions. Studies with people in survival training show that their attention and memory can be seriously affected. This can lead to mistakes or inability to perform crucial survival tasks.

Researchers are still trying to understand why this happens and how to prevent it. They look at how stress affects our brain and how we can improve our ability to handle extreme situations.

In summary, survival psychology explores why some people survive tough conditions while others don’t. It’s not just about physical strength but also about how our minds handle stress and danger. Understanding these mental challenges can help us better prepare for emergencies and improve survival chances.