TYPOLOGY OF HOSTAGE-TAKERS

• NCJ Number: 57618
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 21-23
• Author(s): I GOLDABER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE MOTIVATIONS OF HOSTAGE-TAKERS VARY GREATLY AND CAN BE ROUGHLY GROUPED INTO NINE CATEGORIES; POLICE RESPONSE MUST INCLUDE A GREAT DEAL OF KNOWLEDGE AND DISCRETION TO PROPERLY DEAL WITH THE HOSTAGE-TAKER.

Abstract

THE MOTIVATION OF HOSTAGE-TAKERS STEMS FROM THREE DIFFERENT BASES: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, THE CRIMINAL, AND THE POLITICAL. WITHIN THE FIRST CATEGORY ARE THREE PERSONALITY TYPES: (1) THE SUICIDAL PERSONALITY WHO IS CAUGHT IN A CRISIS LIFE-STYLE AND SEES NO OTHER ESCAPE, (2) THE VENGEANCE SEEKER WHO IS EXTREMELY DERANGED AND STALKS REAL AND IMAGINARY ADVERSARIES, AND (3) THE DISTURBED INDIVIDUAL IS USUALLY ACTING OUT A TRANSITORY OUTRAGE OR FRUSTRATION, ALTHOUGH HE MAY BE SERIOUSLY DISTURBED AND MUST BE DEALT WITH CAREFULLY. THE NEXT GROUP INCLUDES (1) THE CORNERED PERPETRATOR WHO IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE AND IS TYPICALLY A BANK ROBBER, (2) THE AGGRIEVED INMATE WHO TAKES HOSTAGES WITHIN THE PRISON IN ORDER TO HAVE HIS DEMANDS MET, (3) THE FELONIOUS EXTORTIONIST TO WHOM HOSTAGE-TAKING IS A BUSINESS THAT HE HAS PLANNED IN A COLD, METHODICAL MANNER. THE THIRD GROUP INCLUDES (1) THE SOCIAL PROTESTER WHO IS COMMITTED TO A CAUSE, (2) THE IDEALOGICAL ZEALOT WHO REDUCES THE WORLD INTO A SIMPLISTIC SOLUTION AND RESISTS THOSE WHO STAND IN HIS WAY, AND (3) THE TERRORIST-TYPE WHO IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AROUND THE WORLD. HE IS A TRAINED FIGHTER, FIGHTING A WAR, AND IS CAPABLE OF HAVOC. POLICE RESPONSE WHEN FACING HOSTAGE-TAKERS HAS TWO PARTS: NEGOTIATION AND ASSAULT. EXTREME DISCRETION MUST BE USED IN PREDICTING THE HOSTAGE-TAKER'S MOVES AND DECIDING HOW LONG NEGOTIATION SHOULD CONTINUE. IN THIS SITUATION THE JUDGMENT OF THE INCIDENT COMMANDER IS PARAMOUNT. HE MUST DECIDE HOW LONG TO CONTINUE, WHEN TO ABANDON ONE APPROACH, AND WHEN TO TRY ANOTHER. HE MUST UNDERSTAND THOROUGHLY THE TYPE OF HOSTAGE-TAKER BEING DEALT WITH IN ORDER TO PREDICT HIS MOVES AND AVOID A TRAGEDY. A TABLE IS INCLUDED. (STB)