Hostages & Hostage Negotiation Flashcards
Definitions
Faure (2003): the detention of individuals whose release is conditional on the realisation of certain conditions determined by their captors
Terminology - crisis negotiation
Planned vs Accidental
Types:
1) Hijacking
2) Barricade-siege
3) Kidnapping
History of Hostages
Hostage taking has its roots in antiquity.
Hostages from Latin Hospes
Two approaches
1) soft approach
2) hard approach
1971 Attica Prison
1972 Munich Olympics
NYPD develop negotiation tactics (Marsh 2011)
3rd Approach softly slowly -Ashmore 2003
The players
Target Negotiators Mediator Hostage takers Hostages Media Families Accomplices Constituencies
The Players
Hostages
Some people are more at risk than others
The Players
Hostage-takers
3 Types - Faure 2003
1) the criminal
2) political militant
3) mentally ill
Strenz 1985 - 52% of US hostage takers are mentally disturbed.
The Players
Authorities
A word on gov’t and policies
We don’t negotiate with terrorists!
Stages of Hostage-Taking
Wilson (2003)
1) Pre-event
2) Initiation
3) Holding
4) Negotiation
5) Closure
6) Post-Event
1) Pre-event
Some people more aware than others.
- hostage avoidance / survival training
- technique personalisation
Kentsmith (1982)
Survivors more likely:
1) good physical health
2) strong self-identity
3) experienced success
4) purpose / meaning in life
5) rich / full / satisfying life
1) Pre-event
Authorities Prepare
Negotiation teams and strategies
Negotiation teams and strategies
- exact role of psych unclear
- post-event counselling
1) Pre-event
Authorities Prepare
Success as Negotiator
Volunteers
Good specialised training
Wide range of experience
1) Pre-event
Authorities Prepare
Profiling
Too speculative
Interviews with captured terrorists?
To what ends?
1) Pre-event
Hostage-takers prepare
Motivation and commitment
Likelihood capture.
Level of preparation and resources can be a useful insight into the hostage-takers.
- manpower available
- equipment available
2) Initiation
Hostage takers
Assert control.
Fatalities? Most likely time for fatalities during rescue.
How do hostages behave?
2) Initiation
Authorities initiate set procedures
Intelligence gathered
2) Initiation
Making Predictions
Predicting the outcome of a hostage situation.
Factors most associated with a violent ending:
- major international incident
- non-mobile strategy
- presence of explosives /grenades
- deliberate hostage execution
- availability of a trained rescue team
2) Initiation
Making Predictions
Criticisms
Don’t differentiate between different types of hostage taking
Assuming that what the terrorists asked for was what they actually wanted!
3 Holding
The role of media
- does it encourage such incidents to take place?
- the media may give away critical tactical information
Should there be a media blackout to discourage ‘attention-seekers’?
Case of Achille Lauro
Media can be used in a positive way,
3) Holding
Hostages experience
Stages
Allodi 1994:
- sensory deprivation
- powerlessness
- dehumanisation
- fear of death
- worthlessness
- ambivalence
Kentsmith 1982
1) feelings of isolation
2) search for meaning
3) reflection on life
4) terms with possible death
5) Positive feelings - hope
3) Holding
Hostages experience
Stockholm Syndrome
Stockholm bank
4 bank employees held hostage for 131 hours.
The paradoxical development of reciprocal positive feelings between hostages and their terrorist captors - Auerbach et al 1994
3) Holding
Hostages experience
Stockholm Syndrome
Does it exist?
Wilson 2003 - little known
Fuelier 1991 - detailed account
Maybe referred to as Hostage Identification Syndrome (HIS)
3) Holding
Hostages experience
Stockholm Syndrome
Stages
1) face-to-face contact
2) shared language
3) present / nature violence
4) prior knowledge of HIS
5) Time
3) Holding
Hostages experience
Stockholm Syndrome
Why does it happen?
Wilson 1999 - the role of rules and scripts and script breakdown.
Using advantage:
- negotiators
- hostage takers
Course of HIS does not always run smooth.
3) Holding
Hostages experience
The London Syndrom
1981 Iranian Embassy Siege
Hostages uncooperative and aggressive e.g. SAbbas Lavasani
“a belligerent, argumentative attitude clearly may place a hostage at greater risk if the hostage taker decides to select someone for injury or death” Fuselier 1999
Hostages also at risk if they draw attention to themselves by crying, whining and being over compliant.
3) Negotiation
Lanceley 1999: the number one priority in crisis negotiations is the preservation of human life, any life. Everything else is secondary.
- containment
- perimeters
- negotiate
3) Negotiation
Guidelines
Fuselier 1981
- basic human needs increase
- anxiety reduction
- thinking more rationally / less emotionally
- Stockholm syndrome may begin to form
- Increased escape
- Intel gathering
- Rapport / trust
3) Negotiation
Qualities of Good Negotiator
Fuselier 1981
1) excellent mental / physical health
2) emotional maturity
3) good listener
4) someone who can easily establish credibility with others
5) ability to use logical arguments to convince others
6) able to cope with uncertainty
7) consider assault approach
3) Negotiation
Role of Negotiator
Lanceley 1999
Active listening:
- not necessarily smooth talking
- ex-FBI negotiator claims needs to be a smooth-talker
- take notes
- get hostage-taker’s name right (no shortening)
Aim to build rapport with target.
4) What is negotiable?
Food
- verify number of hostages
- not drugged
Drink
- not alcohol
Cigarettes / comfort
- good faith
Media coverage
- axe to grind
Negotiators should remain flexible
4) What is NOT negotiable?
Transportation
Bangkok solution - hostages for safe passage
Weapons / ammunition
Hostage exchange
or named hostage
Communication with significant others
5) Closure
Most dangerous stage in terms of loss of life
Authorities must decide whether and when to intervene
- cost-benefit analysis
- Corsi 1981 - only 1% of terrorists are actually suicidal and prepared to die.
Hostage takers have to decide whether to take any deals offered.
5) Closure
Top 5 demands
Wilson 2000
1) release of prisoners - named
2) release of prisoners - general set
3) publicity
4) travel
5) money
6 Post-Event
Hostages - short term
Maintain cohesive support group around them.
Briefing about Symond’s second injury
6 Post-Event
Hostages - long term
Allodi 1994 - stages recovery
1) denial and avoidance of recall of experience
2) acceptance - experience grief / depression
3) reocery / integration
Possible positive outcomes
The Input of Psychology
Applied Psychology
e.g. Leadership Group Dynamics Social Influence Norms
