A pilot study of naturally occurring high-probability request sequences in hostage negotiations. 2009

James Hughes
York Central Hospital, Ontario, Canada. behaviour.mgmt@bellnet.ca

In the current study, the audiotapes from three hostage-taking situations were analyzed. Hostage negotiator requests to the hostage taker were characterized as either high or low probability. The results suggested that hostage-taker compliance to a hostage negotiator's low-probability request was more likely when a series of complied-with high-probability requests preceded the low-probability request. However, two of the three hostage-taking situations ended violently; therefore, the implications of the high-probability request sequence for hostage-taking situations should be assessed in future research.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010565 Persuasive Communication A mode of communication concerned with inducing or urging the adoption of certain beliefs, theories, or lines of action by others. Persuasion,Communication, Persuasive
D010865 Pilot Projects Small-scale tests of methods and procedures to be used on a larger scale if the pilot study demonstrates that these methods and procedures can work. Pilot Studies,Pilot Study,Pilot Project,Project, Pilot,Projects, Pilot,Studies, Pilot,Study, Pilot
D011329 Prisoners Persons deprived of their liberty; those held is against their will, or who are kept in confinement or custody. Detained Persons,Hostages,Imprisoned Individuals,Incarcerated Individuals,Inmates,Detained Person,Hostage,Imprisoned Individual,Incarcerated Individual,Individual, Imprisoned,Individual, Incarcerated,Inmate,Person, Detained,Prisoner
D011336 Probability The study of chance processes or the relative frequency characterizing a chance process. Probabilities
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013637 Tape Recording Recording of information on magnetic or punched paper tape. Audiotapes,Tape Recordings,Audiotape,Recording, Tape
D014754 Violence Use of physical force causing or intent to cause harm, injury or abuse. Assaultive Behavior,Atrocities,Behavior, Assaultive,Interpersonal Violence,Physical Assault,Physical Attacks,Structural Violence,Violent Crime,Assault, Physical,Attack, Physical,Attacks, Physical,Crime, Violent,Interpersonal Violences,Physical Assaults,Physical Attack,Violence, Interpersonal,Violence, Structural,Violent Crimes
D017008 Negotiating The process of bargaining in order to arrive at an agreement or compromise on a matter of importance to the parties involved. It also applies to the hearing and determination of a case by a third party chosen by the parties in controversy, as well as the interposing of a third party to reconcile the parties in controversy. Arbitrating,Mediating,Arbitration,Conflict Resolution,Mediation,Negotiation,Conflict Resolutions,Negotiations,Resolution, Conflict
D057237 Criminals Persons who have committed a crime or have been convicted of a crime. Offenders,Criminal,Offender

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