Crisis Negotiations

Most information on a hostage crisis centers on police operations and not the "man on the phone" who quietly resolves situations without loss of life. McMains (San Antonio Police Dept.) and Mullins (Southwest Texas State U.) rectify that neglect, presenting a detailed analysis of crisis negotiation: the development, definitions, and characteristics of a crisis; hostage-taker demands and the effects of time on a situation; the Stockholm syndrome; stress and stress management; communication techniques; intelligence and intelligence gathering; hostage negotiations in prisons; equipment; media relations; and debriefing. Each key concept is supported by numerous case studies, and in some cases, actual transcripts. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR