Hundreds of passengers who fled a Shanghai train earlier this month after a Westerner lost consciousness were reacting in a normal way, experts state.

CCTV footage inside the train shows a Westerner slumping in his seat, then leaning heavily on the shoulder of a stranger beside who quickly pulls away.

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The reflex response by the passenger triggered a chain reaction, causing all the passengers to panic and rush to leave the train. In the ensuing chaos, two people were reported injured.

After the fainting man regained consciousness, he managed to get back on his feet in the empty train and exit at the next station.

Audiences around the world have condemned the reactions of the fellow passengers inside the train for leaving a unconscious person behind.

However, according to Bob Montgomery, a renowned psychologist, their reaction was in fact completely normal.

Montgomery stated that people take cues from those around them and when something unusual happens which is perceived as potentially threatening, they panic. This is what happened on the train.

According to Dr. Montgomery, the most common reaction of people in an emergency is to not react at all.

In rapidly developing circumstances, people are unable to think twice about what they should do, leading them to imitate what others are doing in that specific moment. Therefore, when one person panics, everyone does.

Bloggers have connected the passengers' quick reactions to terrorism which has happened in public places around China.

A blogger, Li Zhiren, wrote that people have been strained by terrorist attacks these past few months, leading them to react to incidents such as these in a more panicked manner.

Even a stranger abruptly fainting can trigger fear in those around him, causing people to react very quickly in the moment.

TagsDr. Montgomery, Shanghai train, Li Zhiren, Li Zhiren, man faints on train, panic on shangahi train