SURPRISINGLY FEW HOSTAGES BEAR GRUDGES AGAINST THEIR CAPTORS UPON RELEASE. OFTEN THEY CHAT, SHARE FOOD, AND PART AMIABLY. MANY EX-HOSTAGES DESCRIBE THEIR CAPTORS AS SINCERE OR DEDICATED MEN. ON OCCASION HOSTAGES HAVE GONE BEYOND COMPLIANCE TO ACTIVELY AIDING OR PROTECTING THEIR CAPTORS. A NUMBER OF FACTORS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THESE REACTIONS ON THE PART OF HOSTAGES. A NUMBER OF ELEMENTS OF BRAINWASHING ARE INHERENT IN THE SITUATION: FEAR, FATIGUE, TIME/SPACE DISORIENTATION, SENSORY DEPRIVATON, POLITICAL LECTURING. IN ADDITION THE HOSTAGE KNOWS HE MUST ESTABLISH HER PERSONAL IDENTITY AND THUS A BOND WITH HER CAPTOR, IN THE HOPE THAT SHE WILL BECOME A HUMAN BEING WHOM IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO KILL RATHER THAN AN ITEM TO BARTERED. THE HOSTAGE IS ALSO PLACED IN A POSITION IN WHICH HER GOALS COINCIDE WITH THOSE OF THE TERRORIST: BOTH WANT TO SEE THE TERRORISTS DEMANDS MET. FINALLY, THE HOSTAGE IS IN A POSITION OF COMPLETE HELPLESSNESS IN WHICH THE CAPTORS ARE OMNIPOTENT. UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THE HOSTAGE UNCONSCIOUSLY BEGINS TO ASSIMILATE OR EVEN IMITATE THE ATTITUDES OF HER CAPTORS. WHILE IT IS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT AN INDIVIDUAL'S EMOTIONAL RESPONSE UNDER EXTREME STRESS, IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT IN MANY INSTANCES THE HOSTAGE DEVELOPS SYMAPTHY FOR OR FRIENDSHIPS WITH HER CAPTORS. (JAP)