Interaction Analysis of Developmental Phases in Authentic and Simulated Negotiations Between Police and Hostage-takers and Barricaded Suspects

• NCJ Number: 130727
• Author(s): M E Holmes
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 229 pages
• Grant Number(s): 88-IJ-CX-0043
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Publication Format: Dissertation/Thesis
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: University of Minnesota: doctoral dissertation

Annotation

An analysis of police negotiations with hostage-takers used interaction analysis and phase-mapping techniques to create phase map descriptions of a set of actual negotiations and negotiation simulations performed for police training.

Abstract

The study formulated a model for hostage negotiations, based on the concept of developmental phases during the course of a negotiation and based on Gulliver's phase model of negotiation and Abbott's time-phase model of hostage negotiation. The analysis indicated that the phases of hostage negotiations can resemble the developmental phase model, but approximately half of the phase maps did not resemble the model. The simulations tended to resemble the model phase map, whereas actual cases did not. The lack of correspondence of actual negotiations and the model appeared to result from situational features. Findings indicated that police training of negotiators is not as realistic as it should be. Changes are recommended in negotiations training and practice. Tables, 65 references, and appended case scenarios, data tables, and related materials