The Wild Boars, In Their Own Words

NARRATOR: It started as a fun adventure, but things went very wrong. Following a practice session a group of Thai soccer players ranging in age from 11 to 16 and their coach decided to explore the country's longest cave, a six mile long system of tunnels. Suddenly, a monsoon struck and floodwaters filled the tunnels. The team was trapped. Many of the boys couldn't swim, much less navigate the pitch black waters of a flooded cave. The boys appeared to be facing certain death. The 10 day ordeal that followed captured the world's attention and offered a unique window into the science of psychology.

MOTHER: [SPEAKING THAI]

NARRATOR: Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The goals of psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and change behavior. There are many methods to reach those goals. One psychologist might study the Thai soccer team from a stress and health perspective, considering how a stressful situation might affect the boys, as well as their parents and rescuers.

PHUWADECH KAMNGUEN: [SPEAKING THAI]

NARRATOR: Another psychologist might evaluate the story from a personality standpoint. How do the boys' personalities influence their behavior and their relationships with one another?

MANUSANIT CHONGPANYANON: [SPEAKING THAI]

NARRATOR: Yet another psychologist might interpret the story using theories of positive psychology, which explore human flourishing and the positive aspects of human nature. What can we learn by focusing on the positive aspects of the boys' story?

TAN JINSEANG: [SPEAKING THAI]

NARRATOR: 10 days after officials launched the search and rescue effort, two highly skilled British cave divers found the boys in a moment that captivated the world.

DIVER: How many of you?

DIVER: They're all alive.

DIVER: 13? Brilliant.

NARRATOR: Having discovered the boys alive, rescuers decided the safest approach was to pull each boy out to safety on a stretcher. The process of navigating through a dark system of underground tunnels, some of which were completely underwater, would be dangerous. Two days later what had seemed an impossible task was over. The entire team was free.

ARPAKORN YOOKONGKAEW: [SPEAKING THAI]

THAM CHANTHAWONG: [SPEAKING THAI]

NARRATOR: The world breathed a sigh of relief when the boys were finally brought to safety. And for psychologists, there are many lessons to learn from these 13 brave young people who managed to survive their ordeal.

DEREK ANDERSON: Their coach and the boys all came together and discussed staying strong, having that will to live, having the will to survive.

EKAPOL CHANTHAWONG: [SPEAKING THAI]

PORNCHAI KAMLUAGN: [SPEAKING THAI]

DEREK ANDERSON: We were extremely fortunate that the outcome was the way it was.