NCJ Number
87622
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 52 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1983) Pages: 18-24
Date Published
1983
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Applied behavioral analysis does not indicate that a caring relationship between hostagetaker and hostage (Stockholm syndrome) is inevitable but that it depends possibly on factors that may be encouraged by the police to reduce the likelihood of violence being done to the hostages by the hostagetaker.
Abstract
Although there has been much talk about the phenomenon of the development of a caring relationship between hostagetakers and their hostages as a result of the 1973 hostage incident in Sweden where a bank robber and his hostages developed sympathy for one another (albeit primarily with one hostage and one hostagetaker), very little has been done to isolate the factors involved in the development of such a caring relationship. Applied behavior analysis indicates that the dynamics of the Stockholm incident evolved from particular aspects of the personalities of those involved and the circumstances of that particular incident. Police can do much to foster caring dynamics between hostagetaker and hostage by first securing the perimeter of the incident location thus forcing hostagetaker and hostages into a fixed area where they must remain throughout the incident. Conversations with the hostagetaker should focus upon the health and condition of the hostages, and negotiators should suggest that they be allowed to provide food and other services for the hostages. Any positive statements by the hostagetaker toward the hostages should be reinforced with encouragement and warmth, while negative statements should be ignored. Food might be sent in the form of various ingredients that must be combined before a meal is ready for serving, thus requiring conversation and cooperation between hostages and hostagetakers.