Chilean miners remain trapped; how would you survive underground?

It is still unclear when the 33 Chilean miners trapped 700 meters below ground will be rescued. The Chilean mining minister says it will before Christmas, a shorter timeline than originally anticipated. The group received its first solid food from the surface today: ham sandwiches. Even if the miners are trapped for 60 days, rather than the previously announced 120 days, it is still a very long time to be trapped in a confined space with the same people. We’ve been asking our listeners: What would happen if you were trapped underground with your coworkers?

Col. Tom Kolditz, the chair of the behavioral sciences program at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, has been using the example of the Chilean miners in his psychology class. He explains the typical behavior that can be expected of anyone stuck in a similar situation.

We also talk with Eva Salinas, the editor of the Santiago Times, for an update on the current conditions for the workers.