It's a Wonderful Night- Night Life

I find it amusing that the men make fun of the cowards that shoot themselves through the foot, yet when Rat shoots himself in the foot "Nobody blames him" (page 212) (is it bad that "Shot through the heart" got stuck in my head due to this chapter?). I think the men are secretly jealous that Rat got off. He valued his life over the view of the men around him. This chapter focuses on motivation. What is the motivation of the men once they enter the dreaded night life? What is their survival motivation?