Ventilating
Feelings
Let's
next examine impotency and constipated rage of victims taken hostage. If you have
worked with a skyjack victim who has been taken hostage, you know it's important
in the treatment of acute responses and especially in the treatment of delayed
responses, to recognize their need to ventilate. In addition to the normal ventilation
toward their captors, the client must be allowed and encouraged to express feelings
of hostility toward the individuals involved in negotiations for their release,
as well as any feelings of pathological transference they may have toward the
terrorist or their captors.
7 Examples of Ecouragement to Vent
If a patient experiences withdrawn behavior and needs
encouragement to vent, you may find the following seven examples helpful with
some clients.
1. If I could feel what I am most afraid to feel, what would that
be?
2. My biggest fears are...
3. I am angry about what...
4. I feel anxious when...
5. If I could say what I really want to say, what would that be?...
6.
I have been feeling bad about what...
7. Encourage the patient not to judge themselves.
A colleague of mine then suggests they affirm their feelings by saying, “And
that’s the way it is now.” According to Ochberg in Victims of Terrorism,
during a siege, while the victim is still being held hostage, it is important
not to disturb the development of the previously mentioned pathological transference.
It must be left alone.
Disturbing pathological transference to the captors
while the victim is held hostage only reactivates the victim’s terror and
could produce a hopelessness that might result in panic behavior. Because
of this transference, rescuers must not expect the victim's cooperation in any
escape plans.
Ochberg
believes that the persistence of pathological transference in the victim long
after his or her release is based on a primal fear that any expression of negative
feelings or behavior toward his former captors may bring retaliation. Yet the
victim is also aware of the captors’ predatory use of his suffering to obtain
their demands. This accounts for the persistent, impotent, or another way to put
this is “constipated” rage often experienced in victims of violent crime.
In the past, this rage is common among concentration camp victims who felt that
they cannot get revenge, or even reparations, from the Nazis for their suffering.
When we work with rape survivors, we have encouraged victims to come to terms
with this rage by adopting the attitude that “Survival, and living without
fear, is getting even.” Let me repeat that, perhaps for your future reference,
we have encouraged victims to come to terms with this rage by adopting the attitude
that “Survival, and living without fear, is getting even."
Peer-Reviewed Journal Article References:
Beck, J. G., Reich, C. M., Woodward, M. J., Olsen, S. A., Jones, J. M., & Patton, S. C. (2015). How do negative emotions relate to dysfunctional posttrauma cognitions? An examination of interpersonal trauma survivors. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 7(1), 3–10.
Eagle, G., Benn, M., Fletcher, T., & Sibisi, H. (2013). Engaging with intergroup prejudice in victims of violent crime/attack. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 19(3), 240–252.
McGuire, A. P., Frankfurt, S. B., Anderson, L. M., & Connolly, K. M. (2020). Pre- to posttreatment changes in trauma-cued negative emotion mediate improvement in posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and impulsivity. Traumatology. Advance online publication.
Platt, M., & Freyd, J. (2012). Trauma and negative underlying assumptions in feelings of shame: An exploratory study. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 4(4), 370–378.
QUESTION
5: What could be the result of disturbing pathological transference while
the victim is still held hostage? To select and enter your answer go to .
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