生存主义强调在任何情况下最大化个人或群体的生存概率，持这种论调的人被称为生存主义者。在外人看来，生存主义者的思维方式和行为很像杀人亡命的逃犯或迫害妄想症患者，但实际上有很大不同。生存主义者通常心地善良、家世清白。生存主义所设想的灾害和胁迫，比如核战争、地震和海啸，其实都是客观存在的，虽然发生的概率很低。

生存主义者不相信也决不依赖任何其他个人或组织，但也不会妨害他人。生存主义为了提高个人或群体在发生灾难时的生存概率，通常会牺牲生存主义者本人日常生活的质量和办事效率，而不会影响其他个人或群体的的日常生活以及发生灾难时的生存概率，所以生存主义者对社会是无害的。不过，由于生存主义者通常学识渊博、体格健壮、意志坚定，某些人会认为这是一种不容易控制的力量而反感。

Survival skills are techniques a person may use in a dangerous situation like natural disasters to save themselves and others. These techniques are meant to provide basic necessities for human life: water, food, shelter, to avoid possibly fatal interactions with animals and plants, and to cure any incurred injury or ailments. Survival skills are often basic ideas and abilities that ancients invented and used themselves for thousands of years. Outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, fishing, and hunting all require basic wilderness survival skills, especially in handling emergency situations. Bushcraft and primitive living are most often self-implemented, but require many of the same skills.