NCJ Number
79684
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Dick Mulder, psychiatric advisor to the Dutch Ministry of Justice discusses the psychological reactions of hostages being held at a known siege location and their implications for actions and attitudes of the authorities and the press.
Abstract
The experience of being held hostage elicits three distinct stages of psychological reaction. The first two occur during the time of the siege, with the second appearing upon release and coloring its aftermath; and the onset of the third is usually 4 to 6 months thereafter. Any meaningful assessment of the effects of the experience can be made only after a year. Upon being seized, the hostages are immediately reduced to total dependence upon their captives, whose dehumanizing treatment has devastating effects, causing an experience of the self as nothing. There evolves an emotional espousal of the captives' viewpoint and interests, which expresses itself in hostility and criticism of the authorities. These are the feelings hostages vent immediately upon release; the press sensationalizes them, causing embarrassment for the Government and compromising the hostage. It is important that interrogating authorities, the press, and the public understand that the utterances of a newly released captive do not constitute the individual's rational evaluation of the experience. This evaluation, along with the expression of the powerful repugnant feelings toward the hostage takers, will emerge months later, accompanied by severe depression that contrasts with the bravura shown initially upon release. Assistance to hostages' families during the siege should take the form of their involvement in positive planning for the eventual release and training in how to deal with the emotional reactions of their victimized family member. Care must be taken to keep the press from interference with negotiations and immediate contact with release hostages. In communicating with the captors during the siege, negotiators can psychologically manipulate the hostage takers by stalling their compliance with the terrorists' extreme demands. They should feign a willingness to cooperate that is supposedly stymied by their lack of power to make the actual arrangements. The speaker illustrates nuances of the negotiator's stance by examples from his own performance in negotiation situations, citing both successful and mistaken strategies.