NCJ Number
60018
Editor(s)
R D CRELINSTEN
Date Published
1977
Length
192 pages
Annotation
PROCEEDINGS OF A CONFERENCE ON THE VICTIMS OF TERRORISM ARE REPORTED WITH EMPHASIS ON THE TOPIC OF THE PROLONGED HOSTAGE SIEGE AND THE ROLE OF PSYCHIATRY IN THE CONTROL OF SIEGES.
Abstract
THE PAPER AND ANALYSES FROM THE EVIAN CONFERENCE (1977) ATTEMPT TO PROMOTE MORE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF TERRORISM AND TO ACCUMULATE AND TRANSFER KNOWLEDGE FROM A WIDE RANGE OF FIELDS AND PROFESSIONS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE INVESTIGATION OF TERRORISM. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ROLE OF THE VICTIM OF TERRORIST ATTACKS AND A CONCENTRATION ON THE PSYCHIATRIC ASPECTS OF THE VICTIMS' EXPERIENCES ENCOMPASS BOTH THE IMMEDIATE SUFFERING OF THE VICTIMS AND THE BROADER EFFECTS OF PUBLIC SYMPATHY WITH THE VICTIMS. A PUBLIC WHICH OVERREACTS IN OUTRAGE AGAINST THE VICTIMS' HELPLESSNESS MAY PRECIPITATE HARSH, SIMPLISTIC COUNTERTERRORIST MEASURES. IF THE PUBLIC, HOWEVER, IDENTIFIES WITH THE TERRORISTS, THE MORALE OF THE POLICY MAY BE UNDERMINED. ALTHOUGH EXAMPLES FROM THE SOUTH MOLUCCAN TERRORIST INCIDENT INDICATE THAT VICTIMS WILL INITIALLY ACT AGAINST THEIR CAPTORS, MUTUAL FEARS AND ANXIETIES MAY EVENTUALLY CREATE AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE CAPTIVES AND THE CAPTORS, DESCRIBED AS THE 'STOCKHOLM SYNDROME.' THE EFFECTS OF STRESS AND VICTIMIZATION MAY RESULT IN SUBTLE CHANGES WHICH AFFECT THE FUTURE HEALTH OF THE VICTIM, INCLUDING CHANGES IN ENDOCRINE RESPONSE AND BODY CHEMISTRY. COMPARISONS BETWEEN POLITICAL CAPTIVES AND PRISONERS OF WAR APPEAR VALID. VICTIMS MAY, HOWEVER, ADAPT TO THEIR CAPTIVITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF COPING MECHANISMS INCLUDING THE DENIAL OF THE EXPERIENCE. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)