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A NOTES ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT

I. Human Behavior
Is the voluntary or involuntary attitude of a person adopts in order to fit in society’s idea of right
and wrong.
Is the study of human conduct, the way a person behaves or acts; includes the study of human
activities in an attempt to discover recurrent patterns and to formulate rules about man’s social
behavior.
Definition of Terms:
1. Behavior – any act of a person which is observable; any observable responses of a person to his
environment; manner of one’s conduct.
2. Attitude – position of the body, as suggesting some thought, feeling or action; state of mind, behavior or
conduct regarding some matter, as indicating opinion or purpose; internal processes.
3. Human behavior – the acts, attitudes and performances of flesh and blood individuals according to their
environment; properly the subject matter of psychology.
4. Psychology – the science that studies behavior and mental processes
5. Personality – that which distinguishes and characterizes a person.
6. Character – the combination of qualities distinguishing any person or class of persons; any distinctive
trait or mark, or such marks or trait collectively belonging to any person, class or race.

Psychology
Psychology –is the totality or sum of all actions, attitudes, thoughts, mental state of a person or
group of persons. It is the science dealing with the mind of human being including animal behavior.
The word psychology literally means, "the study of the soul" meaning "breath", "spirit", or "soul";
and logos, translated as "study of" or "research".
Individual differences:
 No two people are alike
 Men differs from Women-qualitative differences and physical differences
 People differ from day-to-day activities
Nature differences:
 Physical
 Ability/skill
 Personality
 Intelligence
Application of Psychology in Law enforcement
 Psychology in Public Relation
 Psychology investigation
 Psychology and group control
 Psychology and alcoholics
 Psychology and the courts

Evolution of Human Behavior


1. Homer – the author of Iliad and Odyssey who described Human Behavior as the modern sense of breath
or sign of life
2. Socrates and Plato – describe human behavior in 2 parts:
a. The rational part – capable of unraveling the meaning of life and understanding ideal form; to
make clear the meaning of life and or draw conclusions
b. The irrational part – participate in imperfect form; the inability and / lack on reasoning,
sometimes termed as unreasonable; mostly deals with emotion.
3. Aristotle – describe human behavior as the principle of life; quality or essence of that distinguishing the
living from non-living.

Central Nervous System - The portion of the vertebrate nervous system consisting of the brain and
spinal cord, it integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the
bodies
Major parts of the brain
1. Cerebrum : The biggest part

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The cerebrum makes up 85% of the brain's weight, and it's easy to see why. The cerebrum is the
thinking part of the brain and it controls your voluntary muscles — the ones that move when you
want them to. So you can't dance — or kick a soccer ball — without your cerebrum. When you're
thinking hard, you're using your cerebrum. You need it to solve math problems, figure out a video
game, and draw a picture. Your memory lives in the cerebrum — both short-term memory (what you
ate for dinner last night) and long-term memory (the name of that roller-coaster you rode on two
summers ago). The cerebrum also helps you reason, like when you figure out that you'd better do
your homework now because your mom is taking you to a movie later.
The cerebrum has two halves, with one on either side of the head. Some scientists think that the right
half helps you think about abstract things like music, colors, and shapes. The left half is said to be
more analytical, helping you with math, logic, and speech. Scientists do know for sure that the right
half of the cerebrum controls the left side of your body, and the left half controls the right side.
2. Cerebellum : Balancing Act
The cerebellum is at the back of the brain, below the cerebrum. It's a lot smaller than the cerebrum at
only 1/8 of its size. But it's a very important part of the brain. It controls balance, movement, and
coordination (how your muscles work together). Because of your cerebellum, you can stand upright,
keep your balance, and move around. Think about a surfer riding the waves on his board. What does
he need most to stay balanced? The best surfboard? The coolest wetsuit? Nope — he needs his
cerebellum!

3. Brain stem : Keeps you Breathing


The brain stem sits beneath the cerebrum and in front of the cerebellum. It connects the rest of the
brain to the spinal cord, which runs down your neck and back. The brain stem is in charge of all the
functions your body needs to stay alive, like breathing air, digesting food, and circulating blood. Part
of the brain stem's job is to control your involuntary muscles — the ones that work automatically,
without you even thinking about it. There are involuntary muscles in the heart and stomach, and it's
the brain stem that tells your heart to pump more blood when you're biking or your stomach to start
digesting your lunch. The brain stem also sorts through the millions of messages that the brain and
the rest of the body send back and forth. It's a big job being the brain's secretary.
4. Pituitary Gland : Controls growth
The pituitary gland is very small — only about the size of a pea! Its job is to produce and release
hormones into your body. If your clothes from last year are too small, it's because your pituitary
gland released special hormones that made you grow. This gland is a big player in puberty too. This
is the time when boys' and girls' bodies go through major changes as they slowly become men and
women, all thanks to hormones released by the pituitary gland. This little gland also plays a role with
lots of other hormones, like ones that control the amount of sugars and water in your body. And it
helps keep your metabolism going. Your metabolism is everything that goes on in your body to keep
it alive and growing and supplied with energy, like breathing, digesting food, and moving your blood
around.
5. Hypothalamus : Controls temperature
The hypothalamus is like your brain's inner thermostat (that little box on the wall that controls the
heat in your house). The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be (about 98.6°
Fahrenheit or 37° Celsius). If your body is too hot, the hypothalamus tells it to sweat. If you're too
cold, the hypothalamus gets you shivering. Both shivering and sweating are attempts to get your
body's temperature back where it needs to be.

View points in the study of Human Behavior


1. Neurological
Emphasizes human actions in relation to events taking place inside the body, especially the brain and the
nervous system.
2. Behavioral
Focuses on external activities that can be observed and measured
3. Cognitive
Is concerned with the way the brain processes and transforms in various ways
4. Psychoanalytical
Emphasizes unconscious motives stemming from repressed sexual and aggressive impulses in
childhood.

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5. Humanistic
Focuses on the subject’s experience, freedom of choice and motivation toward self- actualization.
Determinants of behavior
1. Heredity – genetic inheritance
2. Environment – socio-cultural inheritance
3. Self – fundamental functioning of the self structure that we make about ourselves and our world
Factors affecting behaviors
 Heredity/ Biological Factors (nature) – are those that explained by heredity, the characteristics of a
person acquired from birth transferred from one generation to another. It explains that certain emotional
aggression, our intelligence, ability and potentials and our physical appearance are inherited.
 Environmental Factors (nurture) – refers to anything around the person that influences his actions. Some
environmental factors are:
The family background - is a basic consideration because it is in the family whereby an individual first
experiences how to relate and interact with another.
The influences of childhood trauma -which affect the feeling of security of a child undergoing
development, processes.
Pathogenic family structure – those families associated with high frequency of problems such as:
a. Inadequate family - characterized by the inability to cope with ordinary problems of family living. It
lacks the resources, physical or psychological, for meeting the demands of family satisfaction.
b. The anti-social family – those that espouses unacceptable values as a result of the influence of
parents of their children
c. The discordant/ disturbed family – characterized by dissatisfaction of one or both parent from the
relationship that may express feeling of frustration.
d. The disrupted family – characterized by incompleteness whether as a result of death, divorce,
separation or some other circumstances.
 Learning factor – Is a process by which behavior changes as a result of experience or practice. Learning
take place constantly because people are always being given new problems to solve or are being shown
new ways of doing things.

Causes of Conflicts in Human Behavior


1. Physical Causes – refer to natural causes, like a typhoon, an earthquake, a fire, a flood, a storm
2. Social Conflicts – Involve restrictions or rules in the home, in school, in the community.
3. Economic Conflicts – result from one’s inability to acquire material things because poverty or other
financial obligations.

Characteristics or attributes of Behavior


1. Overt behavior – behaviors that are observable
2. Covert behavior – those that are hidden from the view of the observer.
3. Simple behavior – less number of neurons are consumed in the process of behaving
4. Complex behavior – combination of simple behavior
5. Rational behavior – acting with sanity or reasons
6. Irrational behavior – acting without reasons / unaware
7. Voluntary behavior – done with full volition of will
8. Involuntary behavior – bodily processes that goes on even when we are awake or asleep.

Two Basic Types of Human Behavior


 Inherited behavior – refers to any behavior response or reflex exhibited by people due to their genetic
endowment or the process of natural selection.
*Physical and Mental traits
 Learned behavior – involves cognitive adaptation that enhances the human being’s ability to cope with
changes in the environment and to manipulate the environment in ways which improve the chances for
survival, such as verbal communication, logical problem –solving
techniques, job skills.
*Environment, training and effort of the will

Aspects of behavior
1. Intellectual aspect – way of thinking, reasoning, solving problem, processing info. And coping with the
environment

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2. Emotional aspect – feelings, moods, temper, strong motivational force within the person.
3. Social aspect – people interaction or relationship with other people.
4. Moral aspect – conscience, concept on what is good or bad
5. Psychosexual aspect – being a man or woman and the expression of love
6. Political aspect – ideology towards society/ government
7. Value/attitude – interest towards something like or dislikes

Three Levels of behavior


a. The Vegetative – responsible for nurturing and reproduction, mostly found in plants, in human beings,
for food and reproduction
b. The Animal – movement and sensation, mostly the use of senses and sex drives
c. The Rational/ Psyche / Human – values and morals, reasons and the will (purpose and freedom)

Personality Dimensions that affect Human behavior


1. Extraversion – dimension that dictates condition ability and is therefore the principal factor in anti-social
behavior.
Karl Jung’s Theory
Extravert (prefers to be with people, sociable, good mixer, outgoing)
Introvert (prefers to be alone, shy, withdrawn)
Ambivalent (mix of Extravert and Introvert. 67% of people are in this category)
2. Neuroticism – reflects an innate biological predisposition to react physiologically to stressful or
upsetting events.
3. Psychoticism – characterized by cold cruelty, social insensitivity disregard for danger, troublesome
behavior, dislike of others and an attraction toward the unusual.

Psychological Explanations for Human Behavior


1. Personality Theory
Personality- totality of a person
2. Psychiatric Approach
Psychiatry – a field of medicine that specializes in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and
prevention of mental problems
Psychoanalysis – a branch of psychiatry which employs a particular personality theory and a specific
treatment method, usually an individual case study
Sigmund Freud (Father of Psychoanalysis) revolutionized the thinking of the profession on mental illness,
personality development or personality disorders with psychoanalytic theories.
3 Components of Personality
a. ID – the unconscious part if the personality which serves as the reservoir of the primitive and biological
drives and urges. The part of the personality with which we are born, it is animalistic self.
b. EGO – the mediator between the ID and super ego
c. SUPEREGO – the socialized component of the personality
3. The mind and its Relationship to Crime
4. Intelligence and Crime
5. Cognitive Development Theory
6. Behavior Theory
7. Learning Theory
Psychology and Human Needs
Adjustment – the satisfaction of a need
Needs, Drives and Motivation
Drives (aroused state that results from some biological needs) Needs (the triggering factor that drives or
moves a person to act) Motivation (refers to the causes why’s of behavior is required by a need)
Types of Human Needs:
Food, Air, Water, Rest, Sex, Avoidance of pain and stimulus seeking curiosity
Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of
Needs

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Frustration – refers to unpleasant feelings that results from the blocking of motive satisfaction.
Types of Adjustive Behaviors (defense mechanism)
1. Withdrawal reactions – form of psychological or physical flight
 Fantasy – daydream as temporary escape from the frustration of reality
 Nomadism – one the move by wandering from place to place
 Regression – return to an earlier or easier world (infantilism)
 Repression – excluding from unconscious awareness undesirable thought or memory causing pain.
2. Aggressive reactions
 Displacement – directing anger to someone or something other than the cause of anger.
a. Free floating anger – chronic reaction pattern of anger.
b. Scapegoating – blame others for his failure
c. Suicide – self destruction because cannot express outwardly.
3. Compromise reactions
 Isolation – to avoid conflict, seals off attitudes on the mental compartment, allowing it to function in
isolation from conflicting ones
 Sublimation – seeks another socially acceptable outlet for the same original goals
 Substitution – directing behavior to another behavior or acceptable to society
 Over compensating – compensatory activity ceases to be of value once it gets out of control.

II. MENTAL DISORDERS


The Types of Behavior
Who are Normal Persons?
From the view of human adjustment, a normal person is one who behaves according to the norms and
standards of society.
a. Normal behavior – the standard behavior, the socially accepted behavior because they follow the
standard norms of society
Characteristics of a normal person:
1. Free expression of personality
2. Ability to exercise voluntary control over his behavior
3. Adequate security feeling
4. Self-esteem and acceptance
5. Efficient contact/perception of reality
6. Adaptability to group norms
7. Emotional maturity
8. Adequate self-knowledge
9. Integrated and consistent personality
10. Productivity
Who are abnormal person
A person is abnormal when he fails to meet the characteristics of a normal person.
b. Abnormal behavior – behaviors that are deviant from social expectations because they go against the
norms or standard behavior of society.
Characteristics of an abnormal person:
1. Deviation from the average (statistical form) – weight, height and intelligence cover a range values
when measured over a population.
2. Deviation from the ideal (social norms) – One that measures behavior against the standards toward
which most people are striving the ideal.
3. Abnormality in the sense of subjective discomfort (personal distress). It focuses on the psychological
consequences of the behavior of the individual.
4. Abnormality as the inability to function effectively (maladaptive behavior) – this views abnormality
when people who are unable to function effectively and adapt the demands of society are considered
abnormal.
Symptoms of Abnormal behavior

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1. Physical (rapid changes in pulse, temperature, respiration, nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, loss
of appetite, changes in weight, excessive fatigue, pain, coughs, lack of motor coordination and speech
disturbance)
2. Mental (flights of fancy, aphasia –loss of understanding/ producing language, amnesia,
phobias)compulsion to engage in some form of behavior (kleptomania, pyromania, obsessions, false
perceptions)
3. Emotional (apathy-indifference, worry, crying, refusal to eat/ speak, unnatural state of happiness)
Patterns of Abnormal behavior
A. The Neurotic behaviors
B. The Psychopathic behaviors
C. The Psychotic behaviors

A. The Neurotic behaviors


A class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations,
whereby behavior is not outside socially acceptable norms. It is also a group of mild functional
personality disorders in which there is no gross personality disorganization and the individual is not required for
hospitalization. They are sometimes called Psychoneurotic.

Neurotic behavior are composed of the following disorders


1. Anxiety disorders – these are commonly known as “neurotic fear”. Is a blanket term covering several
different forms of a type of mental illness of abnormal and pathological fear and anxiety. When it is
occasional but intense, it is called “panic”. When it is mild but continuous, it is called “worry”. They
are considered as the central feature of all neurotic patterns which are characterized by: Mild
depressions, Fear and tensions, and Mild stresses
Anxiety disorders are grouped as :
a. Objective compulsive disorders
 When an individual is compelled to think about something that he don’t want to think about or carry out
some action against his will.
 The experience of persistent thoughts that we can not seem to get out of our mind such as thoughts about
haunting situations.
 This disorder may lead to committing immoral acts
b. Asthenic Disorder (Neurasthenia)
 An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic mental and physical fatigue and various aches and pains.
 Symptoms includes: Spending too much sleep to avoid fatigue but to no avail, even feels worsen upon
wake; Headache, indigestion; back pains and dizziness.
c. Phobic disorders – the persistent fear on some objects or situation that present no actual danger to
the person.
Acrophobia - high places Agoraphobia - open places
Algophobia -pain Astraphobia -storms, thunder, lightning
Aquaphobia –water Arachnephobia - spiders
Claustrophobia – enclosures Cynophobia -dogs
Dromophobia – crossing streets Entomophobia -insects
Genophobia – sex Hematophobia -blood
Monophobia- being left alone Musophobia - mice
Nyctophobia – dark Ophidiophobia -snakes
Ornithophobia – birds Phasmophobia -ghosts
Pyrophobia -fire Taphephobia -being buried alive
2. Somatoform Disorders - is a mental disorder characterized by physical symptoms that suggest physical
illness or injury – symptoms that cannot be explained fully by a general medical condition, direct effect
of a substance, or attributable to another mental disorder (e.g. panic disorder).
Somatoform disorders are group as:
 Hypochondriasis – the excessive concern about state of health or physical condition
 Psychogenic Pain disorder – characterized by the report of severe and lasting pain.
 Conversion Disorder (hysteria) – a neurotic pattern in which symptoms of some physical malfunction or
loss control without any underlying organic abnormality.
Sensory symptoms of hysteria
Anasthesia – loss of sensitivity
Hyperesthesia – excessive sensitivity

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Hypesthesia – partial loss of sensitivity
Analgesia – loss of sensitivity of pain
Parenthesia – exceptional sensations
Motor Symptoms of Hysteria
Paralysis – selective loss of function
Astasia- abasia – inability to control leg when standing
Aphonia – partial inability to speak
Mutism – total inability to speak
Visceral Symptoms of Hysteria
Choking Sensation
Coughing spells
Difficulty in breathing
Cold and clammy extremities
Nausea
3. Dissociative disorders - can be defined as conditions that involve disruptions or breakdowns of memory,
awareness, identity and/or perception.
A response to obvious stress characterized by:
 Amnesia – partial or total inability to recall or identify past experiences
Brain pathology amnesia – total loss of memory and cannot be retrieved by simple means. It
requires long period of medication
Psychologenic amnesia – failure to recall stored information and still they are beneath the level
of consciousness but “forgotten material”
 Multiple personality – also called “dual personalities”.
 Depersonalization – loss of sense of self or the so called out of body experience
4. Affective disorders – also called as mood disorders, can be defined as conditions that involve disruptions
or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity and/or perception.Levels of mood – extreme elation or
extreme depression
Forms of Affective disorders:
 Milder form
o Sadness
o Discouragement
o Sense of hopelessness
o Grief and the grieving process
 Neurotic Affective, also called as “neurotic mania” characterized by overactive, dominating and
deficient in self-criticism
 Neurotic depression, sadness and dejection. The individual often fails to return to normal after a
reasonable period of time resulted to high level of anxiety and lowers self confidence and loss initiative.
 Major depressive disorders, also called “severe affective disorders” with the following classifications:
o Sub-acute major depressive disorders – symptoms include loss of enthusiasm, feeling of
dejection, feeling failure and unworthiness, fatigue and loss appetite
o Acute major depressive disorders – symptoms includes mild hallucinations, feeling of guilt, want
to be alone and increasingly inactive.
o Depressive stupor – severe degree of psychomotor retardation, almost unresponsive, refuse to
speak and confusions or hallucinations

B. Psychopathic behaviors
Is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for the rights of others
and the rules of society. Psychopaths have a total lack of empathy and remorse, and have very shallow
emotions. They are generally regarded as callous, selfish, dishonest, arrogant, aggressive, impulsive,
irresponsible, and hedonistic.
People with psychopathic behaviors are called “sociopath or psychopaths”. These are persons
who do not have any neurotic or psychotic symptoms but are not able to conform to prevailing standards
of conduct of his social group.
Characteristics of a psychopath:
1. Absence of conscience
2. Emotional immaturity
3. Absence of a life plan
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4. Lack of capacity for love and emotional involvement
5. Failure to learn from experience
6. criminal versatility
Psychopaths are generally called “personality of character disorders”. This group disorders are
composed of the following:
1. Personality disorders – disorders of character, the person is characterized as a “problematic” without
psychoses. The most noticeable and significant feature of these disorders is their negative effect on
interpersonal relationships. A person with an untreated personality disorder is rarely able to enjoy
sustained, meaningful, and rewarding relationships with others, and any relationships they do form are
often fraught with problems and difficulties.
Types of personality disorders:
 Paranoid personality – characterized by suspiciousness,rigidity,envy,hypersensitivity,excessive self-
importance, argumentativeness and tendency to blame others for one’s own mistakes.
 Schizoid personality – characterized by inability to form social relationship and lack interest in doing so.
They are so called “loners”
 Schizotypal personality – characterized by seclusiveness (keep away from others),oversensitivity,
avoidance of communication and superstitious thinking is common.
 Histrionic personality – characterized by immaturity, excitability, emotional instability and self
dramatization.
 Narcissistic personality – characterized by an exaggerated sense of self-importance and pre-occupation
with receiving attention. The person usually expects and demands special treatment from others and
regarding the rights and feelings of others.
 Borderline personality – characterized by instability reflected in drastic mood shifts and behavior
problems. The person usually display intense anger outburst with little provocation and he is impulsive,
unpredictable and periodically unstable.
 Avoidant personality – characterized by hypersensitivity to rejection and apprehensive alertness to any
sign of social derogation. Person is reluctant to enter into social interaction.
 Dependent personality – characterized by extreme dependence on other people – there is acute
discomfort and even panic to be alone. The person lacks confidence and feels helpless.
 Passive-aggressive personality – characterized by being hostile express in indirect and non-violent ways.
They are also called as “stubborn”.
 Compulsive personality – characterized by excessive concern with rules, order, efficiency that everyone
does things their way and an ability to express warm feeling. The person is over conscientious, serious
and with difficulty in doing things for relaxation.
 Anti- social personality – characterized by continuing violation of the rights of others through
aggressive, anti-social behavior with remorse or loyalty to anyone.
2. Criminal behavior – the disorder used to describe the behavior of a person who commits serious crimes
from individual to property crimes and the disobedience of societal rules in general.
 Dissocial personality – is the term used to refer to these individuals, particularly those who violate law
and practice “crime as profession”.

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C. The Psychotic behavior
It means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often
described as involving a "loss of contact with reality". People suffering from psychosis are described as
psychotic. They are regarded as the most severe type of mental disorder. A psychotic has tensions that
disturb thinking, feeling and sensing; the perception of reality is distorted. He may have delusions and
hallucinations.
Kinds of Psychotic behavior:
1. Organic mental disorders – this occurs when the normal brain has been damage resulted from any
interference of the functioning of the brain. It may be caused by inherited physiology, injury, or disease
affecting brain tissues, chemical or hormonal abnormalities, exposure to toxic materials, neurological
impairment, or abnormal changes associated with aging.
Types of Organic mental disorders
a. Acute brain disorders - any disorder (as sudden confusion or disorientation) in an otherwise normal
person that is due to reversible (temporary) impairment of brain tissues (as by head injuries or drugs
or infection). It is also caused by a diffuse impairment of the brain function. Its function symptoms
range from mild mood changes to delirium.
b. Chronic brain disorder – the brain disorder that result from injuries, diseases, drugs and a variety of
other conditions. Its symptoms include impairment of orientation (time, place and person),
impairment of memory, learning, comprehension and judgment, emotion and self-control.
Groups of Organic Mental Disorders:
 Delirium – the severe impairment of information processing in the brain, affecting the basic process of
attention, perception, memory and thinking.
 Dementia – deterioration in intellectual functioning after completing brain maturation. The defect in the
process of acquiring knowledge or skill, problem solving and judgment.
 Amnesic syndrome – the inability to remember on going events more than few minutes after they have
taken place.
 Hallucinosis – the persistent occurrence of hallucinations, the false perception that arise in full
wakefulness state. That includes hallucinations on visual and hearing or both.
 Organic delusional syndrome – the false belief arising in a setting of known or suspected brain damage.
 Organic Affective Syndrome – the extreme/ severe manic or depressive state with the impairment of the
cerebral function.
 Organic personality syndrome – the general personality changes following brain damage.
 General Paresis – also called “dementia paralytica” a syphilitic infection of the brain and involving
impairment of the Central Nervous System.
2. Disorders involving Brain tumor – A tumor is a new growth involving abnormal enlargement of body
tissue. Brain tumor can cause variety of personality alterations and it may lead to any neurotic behavior
and consequently to psychotic behavior.
3. Disorders involving Head injury – injury to the head as a result of falls, blows and accidents causing
sensory and motor disorders and mental disorders such as :
a. Retrograde amnesia – the inability to recall events preceding immediately the injury
b. Intra- cerebral hemorrhage – gross bleeding at the site of the damage
c. Petechial Hemorrhage – small spots of bleeding at the site of damage.
These injuries may also impair language and other related sensory motor functions and may result to brain
damage such as:
 Auditory asphasia – loss ability to understand spoken words
 Expressive asphasia – loss ability to speak required words
 Normal asphasia – loss ability to recall names of objects
 Alexia – loss ability to express thoughts in writing
 Apraxia – loss of ability to perform simple voluntary acts
4. Senile and Pre-senile Dementia
a. Senile Dementia – mental disorder that accompanied by brain degeneration due to old age.
b. Pre-senile Dementia – mental disorder associated with earlier degeneration of the brain
5. Mental retardation –(mental deficiencies/mental sub-abnormality) is a condition diagnosed before age
18 that includes below-average general intellectual function, and a lack of the skills necessary for daily
living.
Levels of Mental retardation:
a. Mild mental retardation (IQ 52-75) – educable
b. Moderate mental retardation (IQ 25-50) – trainable
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c. Severe mental deficiency (IQ 20-35) – dependent retarded
d. Profound mental retardation (IQ under 20) – life support retarded
Classical types of Mental deficiencies:
a. Idiot – (dolt/dullard) is a mentally deficient person, or someone who acts in a self-defeating or
significantly counterproductive way. He cannot express himself by language, is quiet, timid and
easily irritated. He cannot guard himself against common physical dangers. The deficiency is usually
associated with physical abnormalities like microcephaly and mongolism. Mentality never exceeds
that of a normal child over 2 years old. IQ is from 0-20
b. Imbecile - was a medical term used to describe a person with moderate to severe mental retardation,
as well as for a type of criminal. It arises from the Latin word imbecillus, meaning weak, or weak-
minded. Mental defect is not as severe as the idiots, he cannot manage his own affairs. He may be
able to speak but with poor command of language. He can easily be aroused to passion and may
show purposely behavior. He may be trained to do simple work under supervision. The mental age
may be compared to a normal child from 3-7 yrs. Old. IQ 21-40
c. Feeble-minded - was used from the late nineteenth century in Great Britain, Europe and the United
States to refer to a specific type of "mental deficiency". A person whose mental defect, although not
amounting to imbecility is so pronounced such that he receives care, supervision and control for his
protection and for the protection of others. He is incapable of receiving benefits from instruction in
ordinary school. He lacks initiative and ability for any work or responsibility. He has a mentality
similar to that of a normal child between 8 and 12 yrs. Old and an IQ of 41-70.
A moron is also considered as feeble-minded person. Although he is of considerably higher
intelligence than an imbecile, his intellectual faculties and judgment are not as well developed as in a
normal individual.
d. Morally defective – In addition to the mental defect, there are strong vicious and criminal
propensities, so that the person requires care, supervision and control for the protection of others. He
is devoid of a moral sense and often shows intellectual deficiency though he may be mentally alert.
He is careless, pleasure loving and a devil-may-care sort who adheres to the principles of “live today
for tomorrow we die, live fast and die young and its only happiness that counts.”
Other conditions Manifesting Mental disturbances
a. Somnambulism – this is an abnormal mental condition whereby a person performs an act while sleeping.
b. Semisomnolence/Somnolencia – a person is in a semisomnolent state when he is half asleep or in a
condition between sleep and being awake.
c. Hypnotism / Mesmerism – a person is made unconscious by the suggestive influence of a hypnotist.
d. Delirium – it is a state of confusion of mind characterized by incoherent speech, hallucinations,
illusions, delusions, restlessness and apparently purposeless motions.
6. Schizophrenia - is a mental disorder characterized by a breakdown of thought processes and by poor
emotional responsiveness. It is also refers to the group of psychotic disorders characterized by gross distortions
or reality, withdrawal of social interaction, disorganization and fragmentation of perception, thought and
emotion. Also called as “mental deterioration”, “dementia praecox” / “split mind”
Other Groups of Human disorders
 Addictive groups of disorders. This group disorders includes substance use, obesity and pathological
gambling
 Substance Use (Alcohol and Drug abuse)
Alcoholism or problem drinking is an addictive source of human disorders. It is evident by its general
effects as follows:
 It serves as depressant
 It numbs the higher brain center
 It impairs judgment and other rational
 Deterioration or perception
Drug abuse or the inappropriate/misuse, is a threat to normal behavior. It is an addictive disorder, the
fact that causes both physical and psychological dependency to the drug.
 Extreme obesity – also known as “habitual over eating” is an addictive form of disorder. It is a
life threatening disorder, resulting in such conditions as diabetes, high blood pressure and other
cardiovascular disease that can place an individual at high risk at heart attack.
 Pathological gambling – is an addictive form of disorder, which does not involve chemically
addictive.
 Sexual Deviations / Dysfunction – these are characterized by abnormal sexual desires or acts which are
also known as sexual perversion.
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Definitions of terms:
Sexuality – refers to all behavior associated with relations between sexes and reproductive organs
Normal sexuality (heterosexual) – sexual completion that leads mature and adjusted individual capable
of entering relationship with opposite sex who are physically and emotionally stable and satisfying.
Different Sexual Deviations:
 Masochism – sexual gratification by enduring pain inflicted on him
 Sadism – sexual gratification by inflicting pain upon the partner
 Exhibitionism – exposing private organs or entire body
 Voyeurism – erotic gratification by seeing nude men/ women in some form of sexual act
(peeping tom)
 Lesbianism – sexual relationship between women
 Homosexuality – sexual gratification with same-sex partner
 Transvestitism – wearing clothes and acting the role of the opposite sex
 Transsexual – completely assumed the role of the identity of the opposite sex with permanence
 Pedophilia – child molester
 Fetishism – substituting inanimate objects such as bra or panty as objects of desire
 Frottage/ frottishism – rubbing of sex organ to other parts of the body of the victim
 Bestiality / zoophilia – sex with animals
 Necrophilia – sex with cadaver or dead bodies
 Incest – sexual intercourse between closely related persons whose marriage is prohibited by law
 Autosexual – self gratification through masturbation
 Cunnilungus – using the tongue to excite clitoris, sometimes accompanied by licking and
sucking of the vaginas exterior parts
 Fellatio – sucking the penis from the head to the shaft, sometimes including the balls (blow job)
 Sodomy – anal penetration of male partner/ victim
 Annilism – anal penetration of female partner/ victim

CRISIS INTERVENTION MANAGEMENT


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Definition of Terms:
 Accident – a chance event bringing forth injury, loss or destruction. The absence of positive plan or
intent
 Emergency – sudden unforeseen event or state of affairs which requires prompt or immediate action
 Disaster – the unscheduled event that causes by an emergency. It upsets the performance of valued
activities of the community in two ways:
There is an increased in demand for certain supplies and services
There is a reduction in the ability to deliver supplies and perform services
 Crisis – comes from the Greek word “krisis” which means to severe/separate
An unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending
A situation that has reached a critical phase
The turning point of a disaster or emergency, if uncontained or uncontrolled
Kinds of Crisis:
1. External crisis – it is influenced by the outside causes or factors. Examples are:
a) Threat or threats to one’s life and or family including property:
1. Assassination/Killing
2. Kidnapping
3. Robbery/Hold-up
4. Political Prosecution
5. Organizational Job Harassment
6. Disaster/Calamities:
fires
earthquakes
typhoon/floods
tidal waves
el niño
epidemics
7. Hostage Taking
b) Professional jealousy and Discriminations
1. Assignment/Re-assignment, etc.
2. Cases, changes, complaints, intrigues, etc.
3. Dismissed, terminated, suspended, etc.
2. Internal Crisis – those that are caused by the individual’s psychological, emotional, personal,
financial,economic, moral, spiritual, cultural,occupational and othe internal distress. Examples are:
a) Family Tragedy/s:
1. Death of loved ones
2. Financial burdens
3. Economic shortcomings
4. illness or sickness
5. Bad news
6. Accident/emergencies
b) Failure to attain or to achieve one’s aspiration, such as:
1. Failed in test/board exams etc.
2. Demotion/assigned to lower position
3. Bypassed by subordinates or those he/she observed to be undeserving
4. Emotional tension or problem
5. Marriage or family problems
c) Emotional Negative values and ethics
1. Queer/unique characteristics
2. Social outcast
3. Family outcast
4. Professional outcast
5. Others.

Two types of Crisis

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1. Man-made crisis / emergencies - – it is the result of the state of mind, attitude, weakness, or character
traits of a person or group of persons. Are as follows:
a. carelessness
b. accidents
c. disaffection
d. disloyalty
e. subversion
f. sabotage
g. espionage
h. pilferage
i. theft
j. vandalism, and
k. many other acts or omissions of crimes against property and person.
2. Natural– arise from natural phenomena. Rarely can be done to prevent this type of hazards. Are as
follows:
a. floods
b. earthquakes
c. fires
d. storms
e. volcanic eruptions
f. lightning storms
g. extreme temperature and humidity
h. epidemics
How to effectively manage crisis:

1. Strong faith and trust in GOD, moral and spiritual values enrichments.
2. Devotion to the family, its values and aspirations.
3. Professional commitments. Do good, talk good, serve good, live good, end good.
“Crisis” is temporary depression in one’s life: Face it boldly, positively and professionally.

I. Crisis Intervention Management


Consist of skills and techniques required to assess, understand and cope with any serious situation,
especially from the moment it first occurs to the point that recovery procedures start.
Goals of CIM:
 Manage the “Crisis”
 Manage the “Intervention”

Objectives of CIM:
 Resolve without any further unexpected event /incident
 Safety all participants
 Control all causes of crisis
 Accomplishments of tasks within the framework of national interest and national security
Phases of CIM:
1. Proactive Phase – designed to foresee, predict, prevent or mitigate the probability of occurrence of crisis
and at the same time prepares to manage them as they occur. It has 3 models, namely : Prediction,
Prevention and Preparation
a. Prediction – foreseeing the likelihood of crisis through:
i. Continuous assessment of all possible threats, natural or man made
ii. Analysis of developing or reported events and incidents
iii. Updated inputs from intelligence reports
b. Prevention
i. Institution of passive and active security measures
ii. Remedial solutions to destabilizing factors or security flaws to such crisis and emergencies
iii. Vigilance and alertness to signs or manifestations of developing crisis or emergency
iv. Establishments of alarm systems
c. Preparation
i. Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting, Budgeting or Emergency
Response Units
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ii. Training for capability developments of emergency personnel
iii. Stockpiling of equipments, supplies and medicines
iv. Simulated drills at unspecified days, locations and contingencies
2. Reactive Phase – actual execution or implementation of contingency plans. Sometimes called the
“performance phase”. Performance is the actual execution or implementation of a contingency plan
when crisis situation occurs despite proactive measures taken. It is focused on responding to an ongoing
incident and its consequences
Objectives:
 High probability of success
 Recovery of survivors, essential equipments, important facilities and the likes
 Minimize casualties due to crisis
Stages of Reactions
i. Initial reaction:
Monitoring the progress or deterioration of the incident
Protecting lives and property
Securing the scene
Establishing perimeters (inner, outer)
Mass evacuation
Preventing escalation
ii. Response – begins as soon as the On Scene Command Post is established and the Emergency Teams
(SWAT, EMS, Search and Rescue, Fire Fighting, DG-HAZMAT, CBRN containment, etc.)
iii. Recovery – begins after the response phase is officially terminated. Here, the grim task of body
counts, mass graves and DVI begins
iv. Rehabilitation – begins as soon as the crisis or emergency is controlled

Basis of State’s Power to intervene in a Crisis


1. The 1987 Constitution(Administrative code of 1987-title VIII)
2. Police Power
3. Doctrine of Posse Comitatus
4. Police Authority
5. EO 320- Mandating the creation of Crisis Management Committees at all levels
Policy Based Tasks (general task as a matter of policy)
1. DND –for military crisis
2. NDCC – National Disaster Coordinating Council of the OCD DND for natural disasters and calamities
3. POC – Peace and Order Council of the DILG for non-military man made crisis
o Man made and terrorist – based crisis
4. NCASS – National Civil Aviation Safety and Security of the DOTC for hijacking, civil aviation and air
crash disasters
o Acts on crisis resulting aircraft hijacking, disturbances in the civil aviation or terrorism that has
national significance
5. MARINA – Maritime Industry Authority of the DOTC for Maritime Disasters
6. POC – Peace and Order Council
o Organizational body that shall primarily act on crisis that arise out of man made emergencies
Organization of National CMC
Chairman – Sec. of DILG
Members – Sec. DND
- Sec. DSWD
- Sec. DOJ
- Chief of Staff, AFP
- Other concerned cabinet members
Crisis Management Action Group
1. Negotiation group
Function: Negotiation or communication with the threat groups
Composition : Selected civilian officials or personalities and military / police
2. Operations group
Function : Security functions and tactical operations / interventions
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Composition : regular and special military and police
3. Public Affairs Group
Function : Coordination and control of public information, media coverage and community relations
Composition : Civilian agencies and Military/ Police
HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS AND RECOVERY
 Hostage – a person who is held as a security for the fulfillment of certain term or demands.
 Hostage Taker (HT) – a person holds other people as hostage.
 Negotiate – to arrange or settle by conferring or discussing.
 Hostage Situation (HS) – a situation where persons are held as hostage by hostage taker.
 Police Negotiator – A police personnel tasked with establishing communication and conduct negotiation
with hostage taker.
In order to successfully negotiate a hostage situation, there must be:
1. A need to live on the part of the HT
2. A threat of force by the authorities
3. Communication between the HT and authorities
4. A leader among the HT’s
5. A demand by the HT
6. Containment
7. Time
8. A negotiator for the authorities
Note: “There is no hostage situation in riot.”

Positive Effects of time:

1. Increase basic human needs


2. Reduced anxiety
3. Increase rationality
4. Allow Formation of the Stockholm Syndrome (SS) – is a strange development in a hostage situation
where one or the entire three (3) situation indicated below takes place:
a. Positive feeling of Hostage for Hostage Taker.
b. Negative feeling of hostage against authorities
c. Positive feeling of hostage taker for hostage ideal situation to develop.
5. Increase the Hostage opportunities for Escape
6. Permits better decision-making through the gathering of intelligence.
7. Allows formation of Police Negotiator (PN) – Hostage Taker (HT) (rapport)
8. Hostage Taker’s expectation are reduced
Negative effects of time:
1. Exhaustion
2. Loss of Objectivity
3. Boredom
4. Creeping-up Effect
HOSTAGE AND BARRICADED SITUATION
Hostage situation is part of a broad category of offenses involving deprivation of individual liberty
without consent on the part of the victim. This includes kidnapping, serious illegal detention and other forms of
detentions. However, in a hostage situation, there is an aspect of negotiability. Meaning, the person is held for a
purpose that the hostage taker wants to achieve by threat of force or violence.
In Barricaded situation, the culprit himself is his own hostage and no other. He withdraws to a corner
and threatens harm upon himself or to anybody who attempts to interfere with him unless his demands are met.
HOSTAGE AND BARRICADED SITUATIONS IS A FORM OF MAN MADE CRISIS:
Because HBS is just one of several forms of crisis, the phases for dealing with HBS follows the initial
reaction, response, recovery and rehabilitation sequence in crisis intervention. In addition you must “separate”
the hostage area from the rest of the public by establishing cordons.
i. Initial reaction:
Monitoring the progress or deterioration of the incident
Protecting lives and property
Securing the scene
Establishing perimeters (inner, outer)
Mass evacuation
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Preventing escalation
(As mush as possible, the situation must be prevented from reaching the point of response, recovery and
rehabilitation

Persons in HBS:

I. EMERGENCY TEAMS Inside:

PUBLIC MEDIA &


INNER PERIMETER
FAMILY MEMBERS
HOSTAGES &
CAPTORS

OUTSIDE PERIMETER

EMERGENCY TEAMS
 Hostages
 Hostage Takers
II. Middle :
 Command Center
o Ground Commander
o Auxiliary Ground Commander
o Intelligence Officer
o Psychiatrist/ Psychologist
o Public Information Officer
 Negotiating Team
o Primary/ Lead negotiator
o Secondary negotiator
o Auxiliary (delivers supplies, water, food, etc. to the hostages)
 Tactical Response Teams (Team of last resort)
o SWAT (Assault Team)
o ERST (Extended Range Support Team)
o EOD (Explosives and Ordinance)
 Medical Personnel
 Perimeter Security Team
III. Outside:
 Public
 Media, News Reporters
 Family of the hostages and the hostage takers

The GROUND COMMANDER


The Ground Commander is responsible for maintaining overall control over the crisis. His jurisdiction is
specific to the crisis scene but at the same time broad enough to allow any decision in relation to the crisis. He
must be insulated from external pressure brought about by media, politics and higher command structures so he
can focus on peacefully resolving the crisis. When circumstances so demand, he must be decisive enough to
make critical decisions. Hesitation has no place in a tactical environment.
The ground commander cannot compromise. In order to avoid conflict of interest, he cannot negotiate with the
hostage taker himself. The presence of trained negotiator will delay the dynamics of demands-and-deadlines
and thus give the ground commander enough buffer time to make critical decisions.
The ground commander must choose between these options:
1. Peaceful negotiation (first option)
2. Renegotiation (2nd option)
3. Violent confrontation (3rd option)
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He must remember that the most successful hostage situations are resolved without loss of human lives, be it the
hostage taker or anyone else. On the other hand, most HBS failures involve body counts in the aftermath.
Success here is not measured by the number of cadavers.
Cardinal Rule “Commanders don’t negotiate and Negotiator don’t command”.
Reasons why Commander don’t negotiate:
1. Command of entire situation – negotiation is only part f the task of a commander.
2. Stalling Tactics – if the HT knows that he deal with the commander he will demand everything and the
Commander can hardly extricate himself.
3. Authority – whereas negotiator has no authority to grant the demands or decisions.
4. No maintenance of Rapport - Conflict between the position as commander and as negotiator.
5. Lessen his personality
6. Has no street experience.
7. Loss of objectivity
INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
His job description is to gather as much accurate information as possible : Who are the captors, what are
their backgrounds, what weapons are available to them, do they have external support? Who are the hostages,
how many are they? Case the building and its floor plans, what barriers are there that can impede entry/exit?
Etc.
PSYCHOLOGIST/ PSYCHIATRIST
Gives technical advice as to the mental state of the captors and how to best deal with them. Interprets
hostage behavior in order to evaluate the dangerousness of the hostage takers. Gives immediate counseling to
released hostages and family members.
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
Controls the flow of information to the public and deals directly with the media in a sterile area ( Press
Conference Room). The designation of a PIO helps reduce confusion and misinformation by allowing public
access to updates and developments while at the same time censoring provocative or inflammatory information
that may escalate the situation.
The PIO is only as effective as his team will allow him to be. If “unofficial” source leaks information to the
media, the PIO loses his relevance. Secrecy discipline must be maintained by everyone.
HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION AND THE ROLE OF THE NEGOTIATOR
Negotiation is a process whereby two or more parties attempt to put an end to an impasse by making
reciprocal concessions. When applied to obtain release of hostages, it is known as “Host Negotiation”.
Elements of negotiation are the following:
1. Impasse: there is a dreadlock with no immediate resolution
2. Concession : the act of making a compromise – a meeting halfway between two opposing sides in an
attempt to find a common ground
3. Reciprocity : there is a “give and take” relationship
Negotiating Steps:
1. Isolate the area
2. Evaluate the type of hostage taker
3. Assess violence potential
4. Determine extent of negotiable issues
5. Do not initiate first contact; there must be a demand from the hostage taker before the negotiator steps in
6. A reliable channel of communication between the hostage taker and negotiator must be established
7. Give the hostage taker a need to live or a reason to negotiate
8. Make known the threat of force by authorities
9. Negotiator must be seen as capable of hurting the hostage taker but is willing to help.
10. The negotiator must be patient and able to deal with the ground commander and the hostage taker
making all decisions – his job is to bridge the two
11. There must be time to negotiate

PROFILING THE HOSTAGE TAKER


Before beginning the negotiation, the IO and the Psychologist must analyze the situation carefully by
gathering as much information about the hostage taker. The profile of the hostage taker must be developed
as soon as possible and immediately relayed to the GC who will then brief the Assault Team and
Negotiating Team separately. Information must be kept strictly compartmentalized and given on a strictly
need-to-know basis only. The negotiator must be kept out of the decision to assault so he can focus on his
job – to negotiate.
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After the profile of the hostage taker is established, the negotiators can then formulate their negotiating
strategy based on the profile of the hostage taker.
(Remember: different categories of hostage takers require different approaches)
I. Suicidal, Mentally Ill and Emotionally Disturbed
1. Encourage hostage taker to vent
2. Use reflective techniques (If I were on your situation, I would feel the same.)
3. Never argue – logic will not help
4. Give hostage taker plenty of time

II. Aggrieved persons, Revenge motivated, Domestic violence


1. Encourage hostage taker to vent
2. Appeal to emotions, this kind of hostage takers are emotionally sensitive
3. Use logic and reason
4. Give hostage taker plenty of time
III. Prisoners, Criminals, High risk felons, Terrorist and Politically motivated
1. Clearly state the range of your cooperation
2. Be calm and businesslike
3. Use logic and reason
4. Avoid setting or accepting time limits
5. Help the hostage taker save face
Assessing violence potentials:
The following factors should be considered as possible indicators of violence. Again, this is the job of
IO and the Psychologist
1. Age, sex, education and IQ
2. Alcohol and substance abuse
3. Employment and residential; stability (moves frequently)
4. Lack of emotional support and inability to form interpersonal bond
5. Family violence or victim of child abuse
6. Has recently received notice of a fatal disease
7. Known violent behaviors:
a. Juvenile record
b. Mental or psychological history
c. Street gang association, high interest in weapons, animal torture, etc.
d. Previous arrest/convictions for violent crimes
e. Past violence escalated in frequency and severity
f. Has recently killed a significant person in life
8. Who are the hostages?
a. Family members
b. Friends
c. Co-workers
d. Strangers
9. Hostage behavior
a. Relaxed
b. Fearful
10. Violent behavior during incidents
a. Issues ultimatums and deadlines
b. Violent verbalizations
c. Points weapons to hostages and authorities
d. Demonstrates violence to hostages
e. Shots fired after police arrival
f. Shots fired during negotiation
g. Makes unreasonable demands
h. Demands that authorities kill him
i. Indicates he has nothing to live for
j. Makes fatalistic statements such as “this is the end for me”, “there is no turning back”, etc.
11. Place where the hostage taking took place:
a. Isolated or public?
b. How far is the nearest hospital/medical center?

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c. What is the significance of the place to the hostage taker?
d. Is the place of hostage taking incidental or deliberately chosen by the captor?
Sign of Decreased Risk:
a. Responds to negotiators contacts
b. Is willing to talk to negotiator
c. Allows hostages to communicate with each others and with negotiators
d. Allows freedom of movement
e. Releases hostages
f. Alludes to the future i.e. “next time”, “if given another chance”, etc.
Negotiable and Non-negotiable Issues:
A s a rule of thumb, any demand that has the potential to escalate the situation is non-negotiable (like
grenades, explosives, firearms, bullets, drugs, release of prisoners, reversal of criminal convictions, surrender of
VIP such as the President, etc.). Issues beyond the authority of the negotiator must be delayed as long as
possible before a definitive “no” is given to hostage takers. This is to allow the tactical teams enough time to
plan and prepare for a possible assault.
Negotiable issues that have the effect of relieving tensions must not be given immediately (such as food,
water, cigarettes, etc.). The hostage taker must not be allowed the impression that he is in total control. He must
have sufficient time to cool down and tire off, reducing his will power and increasing the probability of peaceful
resolution.
During the Negotiation:
1. Build rapport
2. Display calmness
3. Encourage hostage taker to talk
4. Listen, listen, listen
5. Express feelings of understanding and empathy (I understand your situation, etc.)
6. Find opportunities, no matter how small, to work with the hostage taker.
7. Do not lie
8. Be sure the hostage taker understands that you are not able to make final decisions
9. Don’t rush – time is on your side
10. Avoid accepting deadlines
11. Withhold rewards as long as possible (food, water, media coverage) so that these cannot interfere in
the negotiation
12. Help the hostage taker save face but with minimal suggestion
Tactical Teams and Team leaders
Prior to the assault, any tactical team member with an itchy trigger finger is not an asset but a liability to
the team. He is not interested in teamwork. His focus is on personal vainglory. Team leaders must be able to
identify these rogue elements and reign on them in the meantime.
When the situation escalates into a worse case scenario and the use of force becomes inevitable, lack of
hesitation becomes crucial. Assault teams must be freed from restraints and be permitted to use the full force of
the law in order to allow them to achieve their mission within the shortest possible time. The longer the delay
drags on, the more opportunity the captors will have to inflict harm on hostages.
As soon as all known threats are neutralized, SWAT teams should threat all hostages as possible suspects and
must be cleared first before they are sent to debriefing (conducted by counseling experts) and released. This is
to avoid the situation where a terrorist may blend in with the hostages in order to avoid capture.
Close Quarter Battle
Unlike open terrains, close quarter battle conditions can turn ugly in an instant. Smoke, flash, noise,
excitement and confusion (collectively called “the fog of war”) can immediately pile up at an overwhelming
speed. Because of these peculiarities in room-to-room combat situations, SWAT operators ideally should
possess high levels of maturity and very stable neuro-psychiatric evaluations. Without presence of mind,
courage and bravery are dangerous to the hostages as well as to the assault team. In the United States, the wash
out rates for SWAT candidates could go as high as 92% of the total number of recruits. This helps screen and
weed out the undesirables from among the tactical ranks.
Radio and verbal communication may be restricted by excessive noise levels in CQB. Therefore, proficiency in
small infantry tactics are important like tight squad formations (shuffle), use of hand signals, door to door
clearing techniques, synchronized and well coordinated maneuvers, etc. In addition, CQB officers must be
capable of climbing up and down ladders or lifelines (rapelling) with heavy and cumbersome special
equipments such as level 3 + body armors, Kevlar helmets, safety equipments, night vision goggles, gas masks,

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etc. He must be able to do all of these under highly stressful combat conditions while maintaining shooting
accuracy.

Collateral Damage Control


Any unintended damage is collateral damage. Assault teams can minimize this in many ways:
1. Accurate shot placement and trigger control
2. Rate of fire: double taps, select fire control
3. Oblique-angle long range fire support (snipers)
4. Use of smoke, noise, flash, chemical and diversionary devices
5. Selecting the most appropriate breaching
6. One-man / two man entry: hook or cross scanning
7. Dynamic entry : to take advantage of the element of surprise
8. Deliberate entry : when the element of surprise is lost and the captors have prepared for the assault.
9. Explosive entry : when use of explosive charge is necessary

Hostage Survival
1. Do not lose hope
2. Do not antagonize the hostage taker
3. Remember, the first few hours is the most volatile
4. Do not speak unless spoken to
5. Avoid eye contact
6. Do exactly as you are told – never argue
7. Avoid making suggestions
8. Try to rest but remain facing your captor
9. Be observant, but not conspicuously so
10. Do not try to escape unless success is certain

Incase of Rescue
a. Expect noise, lights and smoke
b. Hit the floor and stay there

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