Discussion in Podcast #1,078: Unraveling the Factors that Determine Survival in Aviation Disasters and Terror Incidents
In the latest episode of the popular AoM Podcast, survival psychology takes centre stage. The discussion delves into the myths and realities surrounding human behaviour in unexpected crises, a topic that could potentially impact how individuals respond in such situations.
Amanda Ripley, renowned author of the book The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes and Why, serves as the podcast's guest. Ripley's research on human responses in emergencies forms the backbone of the conversation.
Ripley presents a framework she calls the "survival arc," which consists of three stages: denial, deliberation, and decisive action. In the denial phase, people tend to experience a mental state of denial, delaying their response due to an expectation of normalcy. The deliberation phase follows, where survivors process the event, seek information, and assess the situation before taking action. The final stage is decisive action, which is often influenced by factors such as training, preparation, previous experience, and mental readiness.
The podcast also highlights individual and structural factors that influence survival. On the individual front, environmental cues and context, social influence, and training and preparedness play crucial roles. For instance, ambiguous warnings or a lack of clear evacuation protocols can increase denial or hesitation. On the structural front, the physical environment and social setting significantly impact how people perceive and respond to crises.
Ripley illustrates these points with examples from various disasters, including the World Trade Center attacks, where many occupants initially delayed evacuation due to their brains attempting to normalize the abnormal sensations of the building shaking.
The podcast also touches upon strategies to overcome the tendency to be overly complacent and compliant, improving risk assessment in emergencies, and the importance of reading airplane safety cards. The biggest threat during an emergency, according to the podcast, isn't panic but passivity.
A list of the 10 most popular AoM Podcast episodes of 2025 (so far) has been published, featuring episodes such as "Podcast #1,077: The 6 Levels of Wealth and How to Reach Them," "Podcast #849: Live Life in Crescendo," and "Podcast #1,076: The Microbiome Master Key - How 100 Trillion Bacteria Influence Your Weight, Mood, and All-Around Health." A transcript of the podcast and a list of 5 of the best episodes of the AoM Podcast so far this year have also been published. The podcast can be subscribed to in various media players and downloaded for later listening.
For those interested in delving deeper into the world of survival psychology, Ripley's book The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes and Why offers a comprehensive exploration of the topic. The AoM Podcast continues to provide insightful discussions on a wide range of topics, making it a must-listen for many.
[1] Ripley, A. (2009). The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes-and Why. Simon & Schuster.
- Mental readiness, skills, and even the understanding of the science behind human behavior in crisis situations can significantly impact survival, as revealed by Amanda Ripley in the 'AoM Podcast'.
- In her book, 'The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes and Why', Ripley presents a framework called the "survival arc", which is divided into denial, deliberation, and decisive action stages.
- In the podcast, Ripley emphasizes the importance of character, style, and mental-health in overcoming passivity and making decisive actions during emergencies.
- The podcast discusses the importance of etiquette in reading safety cards, particularly airplane safety cards, which can provide crucial information during unexpected crises.
- Apart from individual factors, the podcast highlights the role of health-and-wellness, structures, and environmental cues in influencing people's responses to crises, as illustrated by various disaster examples provided by Ripley.
