NCJ Number
57919
Date Published
1979
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THE TRANSFERENCE PROCESS WHEREBY A SENSE OF CLOSENESS DEVELOPS BETWEEN HOSTAGE AND CAPTOR, CAN EFFECT THE OUTCOME OF HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS.
Abstract
EMPATHY, COMPASSION, SENSITIVITY, INTELLIGENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INSIGHT ARE IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATORS. THE TACTIC OF NEGOTIATION WAS DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO CRISIS AND BECAUSE THE TRADITIONAL MODE OF DEALING WITH BARRICADE AND HOSTAGE SITUATIONS RESULTED IN CASUALTIES. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CONCEPT OF TRANSFERENCE IS DEFINED AS A MENTAL PROCESS THROUGH WHICH A SENSE OF ATTACHMENT DEVELOPS BETWEEN THE HOSTAGE AND HIS CAPTOR. AS TIME PASSES, BOTH CAPTIVE AND CAPTOR FIND THEMSELVES LOCKED IN A MUTUAL FATE. THE CAPTOR IS VIEWED AS BEING ABLE TO OFFER LIFE TO THE CAPTIVE--IF ONLY THE AUTHORITIES WOULD ACCEDE TO THE CAPTOR'S DEMANDS. THE AUTHORITIES ARE PERCEIVED AS OBSTACLES TO SURVIVAL. FROM CASE BY CASE OBSERVATIONS, IT APPEARS THAT SOME OF THE FOLLOWING VARIABLES DETERMINE WHETHER TRANSFERENCE WILL OCCUR: (1) THE LENGTH OF TIME OF HOSTAGE AND CAPTORS ARE CONFINED; (2) THE QUALITY OF THE INTERACTION--WERE THE HOSTAGES WELL-TREATED? (3) THE EXISTENCE OF PREDETERMINED RACIAL ETHNIC HOSTILITIES BETWEEN HOSTAGE AND CAPTOR; (4) THE PREDISPOSITION ON THE PART OF SOME HOSTAGES TO SEEK OUT AND RELATE TO THEIR CAPTORS. SEVERAL CASE HISTORIES ARE DISCUSSED TO HIGHLIGHT VARIOUS POSSIBLE OUTCOMES TO HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS AND THE IMPACT OF THE TRANSFERENCE PROCESS. THREE MAIN QUESTIONS ARE CONSIDERED IN THE DISCUSSION: (1) WHO ARE THE HOSTAGE TAKERS? (2) WHO ARE THE HOSTAGES? (3) WHAT ARE THE DEMANDS AND ON WHOM ARE THEY BEING MADE? IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ULTIMATELY PUBLIC OPINION IN A DEMOCRACY WILL HELP SHAPE THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT WITHIN WHICH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MUST ACT IN COPING WITH TERRORISTS AND HOSTAGE SITUATIONS. REFERENCE NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)