Hostage-Taking: Motives, Resolution, Coping and Effects David A
Advances in psychiatric treatment (2010), vol. 16, 176–183 doi: 10.1192/apt.bp.108.005991 ARTICLE Hostage-taking: motives, resolution, coping and effects David A. Alexander & Susan Klein David A. Alexander is Professor Definition of Mental Health, and Director of SUMMARY the Aberdeen Centre for Trauma Taking hostages has a long history as a method, with ‘Hostage-taking’ is a lay term and refers to the Research at The Robert Gordon variable effectiveness, of securing concessions detention of an individual, against their will and University, Aberdeen. He also from individuals, organisations and governments. without legal authority, for a particular motive. acts as a police consultant and lectures at the Scottish Police More recently, it has become a popular tactic among In the UK, there is no crime of hostage-taking. College on hostage negotiation terrorist organisations. Although the resilience The relevant criminal offences are ‘kidnapping’ and crisis management. Susan of individuals should never be underestimated, (in English law) and ‘abduction’ (in Scottish law). Klein is reader in trauma research there is evidence that being taken hostage can For convenience, the generic, non-legal term of at the Aberdeen Centre for Trauma have enduring effects, particularly on children. ‘hostage-taking’ will be used throughout this Research. Individuals vary in how they cope with such an Correspondence Professor David article. A. Alexander, Aberdeen Centre experience, both during and subsequent to it. The for Trauma Research, Faculty of literature demonstrates that the research base is Health and Social Care, The Robert limited, and many important questions remain to be Motives Gordon University, Garthdee Road, answered.
[Show full text]