It is believed that men, during any incident endangering lives such as ship sinking, prefer saving women and children before themselves. The Uppsala University researchers say this is merely a public perception.

Since, a study carried out by them has signified the actual picture is the other way round. It has been revealed in the review that the gallantry showed by men is dependent on the captain’s instructions and not on their own personal emotions.

The study was made to focus at the sinking of ships, total 16 in number, that have been seen from the 1850s. It has uncovered that out of a total of some 15,000 passengers along with crew, most lives that were saved were of crew.

However, as thought, women’s survival rate was only half of that of men. Though, men passengers also survived less than crew members. Also, a strange fact that came to be known was the lowest count of survivals was of children.

Thus, the team concluded that the Titanic case, in which 70% of women and children, while only 20% of men were saved, was clearly an exceptional one. "Self-regarding players comply with norms only if the cost of the social stigma of violation exceeds the cost of compliance”, said the team.