Just 0.4 per cent of UK adults are fully prepared for a major crisis, according to new research, but scientists suggest that a childhood teddy bear might be the unexpected secret weapon for surviving the end of the world.
Researchers from the University of Oxford and Liverpool John Moores University surveyed 1,000 UK adults as part of the After the End research project. They found that most Brits do not even have half the basic survival gear recommended by the Government's 'Prepare' initiative.
Sentimentality Over Survival Gear
When asked what they would scramble to save in an emergency, Brits named childhood toys, family photo albums, heirlooms and even the ashes of dead pets. One survey respondent said: "My childhood teddy bear. He is going to the grave with me. Apart from that, nothing matters much."
Another participant said they would refuse to leave without their late mother's engagement ring, while others mentioned saving a beer coaster from a memorable first date.
Psychological Anchors in Chaos
Writing for The Conversation, researchers Patricia Kingori, Anna Powell and Ruth Ogden explained that hyper-emotional items act as a "psychological anchor" when society collapses. They said human identity is fragile and surrounding ourselves with meaningful pre-disaster objects can prevent mental breakdown when everything around us is destroyed.
Following the 2011 Japan tsunami, survivors reportedly said that losing priceless family photographs hit them harder emotionally than losing their physical homes.
A Sense of Normality
The researchers said: "A childhood teddy bear becomes a possession imbued with memories and emotions which tell a tale of who we are, where we have come from, and who we care about." They added: "If everything around us falls apart, a treasured item can help us maintain some sense of normality."
Maintaining a strong sense of self-worth and identity makes people more capable of handling extreme danger and adapting to horrific situations after society is destroyed, according to the researchers.
