Brits died on Titanic because of politeness
Many Brits died on the Titanic because they were too polite and queued for lifeboats, researchers claim.
Behavioral experts say Americans had a greater chance of survival on the Titanic maiden voyage of 1912 because they were more "individualist."
While many Brits stood back and let others get onto lifeboats, the researcher say Americans pushed their way onto them to save their own lives.
Using economics' key concepts of scarcity and self-interest the experts concluded the social queuing etiquette kicked in despite the life and death situation.
Statistics show that despite generally being further from the life boats than Brits, 25 percent more US passengers were saved, a case of man-ners overboard.
David Savage, from Queensland University of Technology said: "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.
"People on the Titanic stood back and allowed others to get on the lifeboats, we also considered altruism and helping behaviour in the analysis."
1,500 people died when the Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg in 1912. Women with children had a 70% better chance of survival than men.
LINKS
