Paranoid Schizophrenics

According to the studies, the two most common whackos—that would be the technical term for people with “abnormal personalities”—involved in hostage-taking incidents are psychotics and those with personality disorders.

Hostage negotiators break down psychotics into two different groups, basically because our tactics for dealing with them are very different. Paranoid schizophrenics are people who see the world through different eyes than the rest of us. They have false mental perceptions—very possibly seeing and hearing things that we don’t—and generally think they’re being persecuted.

Of course, that last perception may have some basis in fact after the tactical squad arrives, since they are surrounded by people with guns. But it does make it difficult to build rapport.

The first thing we try to find out is whether such a person is on meds, and if so, whether they’ve taken them. We try very hard not to do anything to reinforce their paranoia—hands in full view, if you have to deal with them face-to-face. And we never argue with them about their delusions. We tell them we understand that they see things, though we don’t.

In a sense, everybody you deal with in a negotiation is a paranoid schizophrenic—they see a different world than you do. Do what a hostage negotiator does: Don’t argue with them about their worldview. You’re not there to change it. Let them tell you from their perspective what they see. Listen to their needs, then use them as you work together on the difficult issue or issues that the negotiation involves.