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The anatomy of a hostage situation
Author(s) -
Wesselius Cassie L.,
DeSarno James V.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.2370010207
Subject(s) - event (particle physics) , psychology , computer security , criminology , social psychology , computer science , quantum mechanics , physics
The authors have attempted to exemplify the social‐psychological interplay between hostage and hostage taker and to dissect the impact of this type of event by focusing on one hostage‐taking incident. The event described is representative of many incidents in which the hostage taker acts alone, without a supporting organization, and is primarily motivated by expressive needs. The hostages suffered many common emotions and symptoms. Each hostage also suffered in an individual way, determined in part by preceding events and dynamics and in part by the roles they assumed within the hostage situation. The more common Hostage Response Syndrome included the overt appearance of the Stockholm Syndrome in only one of the hostages.