The authors draw attention to the fact that many behavioral characteristics found in the terrorist/hostage literature appear to have a parallel in the behavior of the abuser and abused child. These include similar personality characteristics, circumstances around the violence, and beliefs held by both the terrorist and the abuser, as well as similar defensive behavior adopted by the hostage and the abused child. Insights into the reality of the abusive experience can be gained when viewed from the perspective of captor/hostage theory. If the theory can be supported by empirical evidence, different approaches to intervention in child abuse will be implied.
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