Who perished on the Titanic? The importance of social norms

Bruno Frey, David Savage and Benno Torgler
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Benno Torgler: Queensland University of Technology, Australia

Rationality and Society, 2011, vol. 23, issue 1, 35-49

Abstract: This paper seeks to empirically identify what factors make it more or less likely for people to survive in a life-threatening situation. Three factors relate to individual attributes of the persons onboard: physical strength, economic resources, and nationality. Two relate to social aspects : social support and social norms. The Titanic disaster is a life-or-death situation. Otherwise-disregarded aspects of human nature become apparent in such a dangerous situation. The empirical analysis supports the notion that social norms are a key determinant in extreme situations of life or death.

Keywords: decision under pressure; disasters; power; quasi-natural experiment; survival; tragic events (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:23:y:2011:i:1:p:35-49

DOI: 10.1177/1043463110396059

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