Survival mode

[golok]

Can a man psyche himself into a survival mode when facing overwhelming odds?

For example, a man survives a boat capsize in a raging river. In a party of five, he's the sole survivor. He has nothing with him except his wet clothes and that knife on his waist.

Out of desperation and a survival instinct that has gone on overdrive, can that person switch his mind and body into one which spells survival at all costs?

I have read of rare cases of such people. Most ordinary slickers would probably just curl up and await death, and probably feel sorry for himself in the process.

Does the desire for survival depend on the character, training and upbringing of that particular survivor?

Just wondering aloud.

 

[Stryver]

Mental attitude is an enormous part of survival, but strength of mind alone will not bring you through every scenario alive. However, Lack of mental fortitude is enough to kill you in every scenario.

Stryver

 

[psy-ops]

If Sly can do it, I can to

 

[bensano]

I saw this comment once and it seems right.

"Sometimes you can rise to the occasion but usually you fall to the level of your training."

Ben

 

[coyotlviejo]

Even if you don't know the technicalities of survival, you still know what you need. Shelter, food, water, etc. Just the ability to think outside the box will help you. Why might the novice die so soon? Because the water is dirty, the meat is raw, the cave is smelly, etc. It's not necessarily their lack of knowledge, per se, that might kill them. It might simply be the fact that they can't get beyond their own self-imposed limits.

Of course, the topic is so much bigger and wider, but I think that this is a significant part of the survivors mentality.