How Successful Hostage
Negotiators Help A Subject Regain Control & Achieve A Peaceful Conclusion
Often, when a person
is in a crisis they feel like they have no control over their situation. Due to
this perception of their life being out of control, it contributes to the
person (or “subject” in crisis/hostage negotiation jargon) acting out of a
combination of numerous negative emotions such as anger, fear, frustration,
rage, despair and sadness.
These overwhelming emotions and sensing their situation is hopeless can prevent the person from acting rationally and being open to listening to others, being influenced by them or considering alternative options.
For a suicidal person, the subject then might see completing suicide as their only option. For a barricaded perpetrator surrounded by police, they might believe their only option is to “never come out alive” or exiting their position in a hail of gunfire.
For a suicidal person, the subject then might see completing suicide as their only option. For a barricaded perpetrator surrounded by police, they might believe their only option is to “never come out alive” or exiting their position in a hail of gunfire.
Not that crisis and
hostage negotiators need a reminder but this line of work is not easy. The
above description is intended to generate empathy with the subject. Being able to “see things”
from the eyes of another person is critical to eventually influencing them to
gain their voluntary compliance. Remember that is the goal, as the alternative
is involuntary compliance and that more than likely will involve some sort of
force being used.
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In crisis situations, emotions can dictate a person's actions at the detriment of rational thinking. |
If the subject feels
as if they have no control, in order to be able to attempt to successfully
influence them to do what you want (while they think they are making that
choice themselves), you must help them regain a sense of control over their
lives and their current situation. The Crisis Text Line calls this moving a
person from a “hot moment” to a “cool calm.”
So how do you help a
subject regain a sense of control over their situation?
Read the full article at PsychologyToday.com [HERE].