The secondary negotiator is also responsible for maintaining a more detached perspective than the primary and helping the primary remain objective and uninvolved on a personal psychological level (Schmalleger, 2008; Wind, 1995).

One of the primary tools employed by hostage negotiators are information obtained about the underlying motives and psychological makeup of the hostage takers because that understanding enables them to structure their negotiating posture in the manner most conducive to achieving a positive outcome. Hostage negotiators also rely on the bidirectional effect of the Stockholm phenomenon, according to which a psychological connection develops between hostages and hostage takers. In the case of hostages, this is not particularly helpful to negotiators, but as it pertains to hostage takers, the Stockholm syndrome is very helpful because it often results in the development of empathy for the hostages which greatly facilitates a positive outcome (DeFabrique, Romano, & VanHasselt, 2007).

Hostage negotiators also...
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