Polite Poms 'had no chance on Titanic'

Queensland University of Technology behavioural economist David Savage studied four maritime disasters of the 20th century to determine how people reacted in situations of life and death.

Using the key concepts of economics, being scarcity and self-interest, Mr Savage examined whether people reverted to a "survival of the fittest" mentality when faced with possible death.

"It seems that on the Titanic the social norm of 'women and children first' was followed, as proportionally more women than men and almost all the children on board survived," he said.

Lifeboat spaces on the Titanic were scarce but Mr Savage said something made some passengers stand back and allow others to take their places.

"This life and death situation is treated as a 'one-shot game' because those who let others onto lifeboats knowing they faced certain death acted out of something other than self-interest."

However the study also suggests some British passengers gave up their spots because the Americans did not understand ideals of common courtesy.

Mr Savage believes queuing etiquette may not have been as strong among the line-jumping Yankees as it was with Britons.

While those in first class were closer to the lifeboat deck and secured spaces faster than those in lower classes, the research also indicates preferential treatment and inside knowledge about the crisis.

"We expect that first class passengers had higher bargaining power (but also) better access to information about the imminent danger, which may have increased survival rates," he said.

The results of the study indicate a strong support for the theory that social norms and altruisms remain relevant during a disaster.

Mr Savage is also analysing data from the sinking of the cruise liner Lusitania in 1915 by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland, the 1956 sinking of luxury ship Andera Doria and the loss of the Estonia passenger ferry in 1994.