Social psychological dynamics of hostage negotiation: forensic psychology, suicide intervention, police intelligence/counterintelligence, and tactical entry
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review several major components of hostage negotiation including: the different types of hostage situations; the prediction of the behavioral patterns of the hostage taker; the collection and the use of police intelligence in hostage incidents; and the application of forensic psychology during the hostage negotiations process.
Design/methodology/approach
Emphasis on the social psychological aspects of creating attitude change and gaining compliance with the hostage taker are introduced to assist in developing an effective crisis communication approach during the hostage negotiations process.
Findings
The paper also discusses trends in hostage negotiation strategies within incidents of domestic violence, suicide by cop, school shootings, and suicide/homicide bombings.
Practical implications
Limitations and advancements in the field of hostage negotiations are also discussed as well as suggestions for the use of tactical entry to resolve unsuccessful hostage negotiations.
Social implications
Explores the current trend of “suicide by cop,” but also introduces the concept of homicide by cop in relation to police shootings.
Originality/value
The use of criminal psychology in developing hostage negotiation strategies to engage hostage takers with personality disorders, PTSD, paranoid schizophrenia, and suicidal depression is also discussed.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was presented at the annual meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina in San Diego, California for the regular session panel on Crime and Delinquency on March 23, 2012. This paper was presented at the annual meeting of the Western Society of Criminology held at the Ala Moana Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii for the regular session panel on Emerging Issues in Forensics and Criminal Investigation on February 8, 2014. These research findings were presented at the annual meeting of The Society for Police and Criminal Psychology held at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada for the regular session panel on Forensic Psychology on September 19, 2014.
Citation
Knowles, G.J. (2016), "Social psychological dynamics of hostage negotiation: forensic psychology, suicide intervention, police intelligence/counterintelligence, and tactical entry", Journal of Criminal Psychology, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 16-27. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-01-2016-0001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited