IN 1974, JAN-ERIK OLSSON, AN ESCAPED 32-YEAR-OLD SWEDISH CONVICT, ENTERED ONE OF STOCKHOLM'S LARGEST BANKS, TOOK HOSTAGES, AND DEMANDED A CHOSEN ACCOMPLICE, A FAST GETAWAY CAR, TWO PISTOLS, AND A SUM OF ABOUT $710,000 IN SWEDISH CROWNS. HE CALCULATED THAT HIS DEMANDS WOULD BE MET BECAUSE OF A SWEDISH AVERSION TO VIOLENCE AND THE TENSION PROVIDED BY AN ONGOING ELECTION CAMPAIGN. AS TIME PASSED, THE HOSTAGES BEGAN TO SYMPATHIZE MORE AND MORE WITH THEIR CAPTOR, A FACT WHICH, ACCORDING TO INTERVIEWS AND A FIVE-VOLUME POLICE REPORT, REINFORCED OLSSON'S LEADERSHIP. OLSSON'S BEHAVIOR RESULTED FROM A MIX OF CALCULATED SELF-INTEREST, A CONCERN ABOUT HIS SOCIAL STANDING IN PRISON SOCIETY, AND HIS FEELINGS OF FRIENDSHIP TO HIS CAPTIVES. POLICE FINALLY RESCUED THE HOSTAGES USING TEAR GAS. THE CAPTIVES WERE SUBSEQUENTLY TREATED AT A PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC. A FINAL INTERVIEW WITH OLSSON SUGGESTS THAT THE CONVICT HAD CONSIDERED KILLING THE HOSTAGES BUT THAT THE DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIP WITH THEM, PLUS HIS WISH TO LIVE, CAUSED HIM TO RECONSIDER. (AOP)