CRIMINAL PSYCHOPATHS ARE TYPICALLY IMPULSIVE AND THEIR SITUATIONS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE WELL-PLANNED; THEY USE HOSTAGES IN THE SAME WAY THEY WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN UNGUARDED CAR LEFT WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING. THE APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THESE PERSONS REQUIRES NO PRECIPITATE ACTION BUT RATHER A PROLONGED PERIOD OF NEGOTIATION DURING WHICH AUTHORITIES MAKE NO SIGNIFICANT CONCESSIONS, PROVIDE NO PROVOCATION, AND ADOPT A LOW-KEY POSTURE. IF DRUGS, ALCOHOL, OR VOLATILE SOLVENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO CRIMINAL PSYCHOPATHS, THE POSSIBLE EFFECT OF THESE ON THE PSYCHOPATHIC PERSONALITY MUST BE CONSIDERED. THE AVERAGE MENTALLY ILL PERSON HAS A NORMAL CONSCIENCE THAT USUALLY REMAINS INTACT AND PREVENTS HIM OR HER FROM USING AND HURTING OTHERS. FOR MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN HOSTAGE SITUATIONS, THERE MUST BE SOME IMPAIRMENT OF CONSCIOUSNESS THAT DIMINISHES THEIR CONTROL OR SOME CLEARLY DISTURBED THOUGHT PROCESSES THAT RESULT IN PARANOID OR DELUSIONAL IDEATION. THE MENTALLY ILL MAY BE AFFECTED BY BRAIN DAMAGE (ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY), DEPRESSION, SCHIZOPHRENIA, AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. POLITICAL TERRORISTS MAY BE AGGRESSIVE PSYCHOPATHS WHO HAVE ESPOUSED SOME PARTICULAR CAUSE BECAUSE EXTREMISTS CAUSES CAN PROVIDE AN EXTERNAL FOCAL POINT FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG IN THEIR LIVES. ALTERNATIVELY, THEY MAY BE INDIVIDUALS WITH A LOW SENSE OF PERSONAL WORTH AND ACCEPTANCE WHO FIND IT EASIER TO JOIN A GROUP AND ACCEPT PARANOID IDEAS OF THE GROUP. PRECIPITATE ACTION MUST BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS. SITUATIONS INVOLVING POLITICAL TERRORISTS HAVE RESULTED IN POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT EMPHASIZE A DISCIPLINED ATTITUDE OF CONTROL. THE IMPORTANCE OF PSYCHIATRISTS SERVING IN AN ADVISORY ROLE IN HOSTAGE SITUATIONS AND POLICE NEGOTIATIONS IS STRESSED. (DEP)