Kidnapping is the greatest security concern of Americans living abroad. Statistics indicate that half of all terrorist incidents now involve hostages. An analysis of 781 kidnapping operations since 1970 shows that, in most cases, victims failed to exercise even elementary security practices. If these practices had been instituted, the number of abductions would probably have been cut by 50 to 70 percent. Kidnapping i.e., hostages are seldom murdered to lower their level of stress. Discussion focuses on the Stockholm Syndrome, in which hostages identify with their captors; the need for hostages to control all emotional and physical responses; and the importance of establishing oneself as an individual with the kidnapper.