Discussion on Aircraft Mishaps and Terrorist Incidents: Survivors and the Factors Influencing Survival
In the world of podcasts, the Art of Manliness (AoM) has been a go-to source for enlightening discussions on various topics. One of their recent episodes, Podcast #1,076, titled "The Microbiome Master Key - How 100 Trillion Bacteria Influence Your Weight, Mood, and All-Around Health", takes a different turn from the usual. Instead, it delves into the fascinating realm of survival psychology, as discussed by author Amanda Ripley[1].
Ripley's book, The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes—and Why, reveals key findings about how our brains respond during emergencies. One of the most intriguing aspects is the common "survival arc" consisting of three stages: denial, deliberation, and decisive action[2]. In the face of unexpected crises, people often experience denial, where their brains try to fit the event into normalcy, causing them to delay responding even when danger is evident. For instance, survivors of the World Trade Center attacks reported that despite the building shaking and explosions, many initially acted as if nothing was wrong and hesitated to evacuate[3].
Ripley's work also underscores the importance of overcoming paralyzing fear. Emotional reactions like fear can either signal danger helpfully or cause debilitating paralysis. The ability to recognise a moment to act despite fear often determines survival, as taking even risky action can be better than passive acceptance in life-threatening scenarios[4].
Contrary to popular belief, Ripley challenges the notion of widespread panic in disasters. People generally do not panic indiscriminately but follow the survival arc where slow recognition and processing of events precede urgent action[3][4][5]. This book draws on extensive interviews and research to illustrate how mindset, training, and understanding this psychological process can improve survival outcomes in crises.
These insights provide a more accurate understanding of how people respond in disasters and how survival can be influenced by psychological factors. If you're interested in delving deeper into this topic, you can download Podcast #1,076 or look forward to the transcript, which is coming soon[1].
Meanwhile, AoM Podcast has also released a list of the 10 most popular episodes of 2025 (so far), including Podcast #1,076[6]. For those seeking a more focused list, a list of 5 of the best episodes of the AoM Podcast so far this year is also available[7].
In addition to her work on survival psychology, Amanda Ripley has a personal website and discusses various topics, from holiday etiquette to wealth levels[8][9]. Her book, The Unthinkable, is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand human behaviour in emergencies.
[1] https://artofmanliness.com/podcast/1076 [2] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unthinkable-Who-Survives-When-Disaster/dp/159448647X [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/magazine/02survive-t.html [4] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201501/the-survival-arc-and-why-you-should-know-about-it [5] https://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_ripley_the_surprising_science_of_who_survives_disasters [6] https://artofmanliness.com/2025/04/15/top-10-aom-podcast-episodes-of-2025-so-far/ [7] https://artofmanliness.com/2025/04/15/top-5-aom-podcast-episodes-of-2025-so-far/ [8] https://amandaripley.com/ [9] https://artofmanliness.com/podcast/1042
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