Communicative interactions in predicting successful outcomes in hostage negotiation incidents

Abstract

The current study investigated communicative interactions between hostage takers and negotiators in hostage taking incidents. This study used communications from six actual hostage negotiations as data to study those communication behaviors that depict rapport and face saving in relation to the incident outcome. Three of these incidents had a resolution ending with the arrest of the hostage taker, while the remaining three culminated in the suicide of the hostage taker. The unit of analysis was a single thought unit. The findings from this investigation were as follows, more rapport statements were made by both the hostage taker and the negotiator in situations with a non-violent resolution vs. a violent one. Results also indicated in situations ending in suicide, there were more loss of face statements made by the hostage taker directed toward himself, than in incidents ending in arrest.

Notes

This item is only available in print in the UCF Libraries. If this is your thesis or dissertation, you can help us make it available online for use by researchers around the world by downloading and filling out the Internet Distribution Consent Agreement. You may also contact the project coordinator Kerri Bottorff for more information.

Thesis Completion

2000

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Weaver, Jeanne L.

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree Program

Psychology

Subjects

Arts and Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic;Dissertations, Academic -- Arts and Sciences

Format

Print

Identifier

DP0021534

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS