I recently read the full wikipedia page for the 1972 Andes Flight Disaster. What happens and what humans are capable of when pushed to the limits is truly fascinating. The wikipedia didn't dive into details about what the survivors might have done to each other as the press revolved around what the surviving people did with the dead. I wonder if there were battles between individuals/groups or if they were cooperative. It makes sense that any disagreements were quickly laid to rest once they were rescued. It seems like making decisions - especially decisions to send certain people to find help or who gets rations - could results in a lot of turmoil very quickly.
To answer the endless debate as to wether things would turn out better if the boys happended to be girls, you should read Libba Bray's "Beauty Queens": http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/books/review/young-adult-books-beauty-queens-by-libba-bray.html?_r=0
Good read. I read Lord of the flies a few times as a kid. I really enjoyed it then, and would like to read it again as an adult as I think it would take on even greater importance to me. Everyone likes to think they know how they'd respond in such a situation, but I don't think you do it until you're put in it. Would I shove a pan into someone's jugular on a life raft lost at sea? I am pretty sure the answer is "no, I wouldn't.". But…