Behavior under Extreme Conditions: The Titanic Disaster

Context and Data:

• The Titanic sank on April 14, 1912, resulting in the loss of 1,501 lives.
• The study uses detailed data on 2,207 passengers and crew members, including gender, age, nationality, ticket class, and whether they travelled alone or with others.

Survival Determinants:

• Gender: Women had a significantly higher survival rate than men, with women with children having the highest survival rate.
• Age: Children and prime-age adults (16-50) had higher survival rates compared to older individuals.
• Social Status: First- and second-class passengers had higher survival rates than third-class passengers, likely due to better access to lifeboats and information.
• Travel Companions: Traveling alone or with a group did not significantly affect survival chances.
• Crew Members: Crew members had a higher survival rate than third-class passengers, possibly due to better knowledge and access to lifeboats.

Social Norms:

• The norm of “women and children first” was evident, significantly increasing their chances of survival.

Nationality:

• British passengers had a lower survival rate compared to other nationalities, possibly due to a “stiff upper lip” attitude or disbelief in the ship’s sinking.

Comparison with Lusitania:

• The study compares the Titanic with the Lusitania, which sank in 18 minutes in 1915.
• On the Lusitania, prime-age individuals had higher survival rates, but social norms and status played a lesser role due to the rapid sinking.

Conclusions:

• The study finds that both self-interested behaviour and adherence to social norms influenced survival.
• The time available during the disaster allowed social norms to play a significant role on the Titanic, unlike the Lusitania.