If taken hostage, you should NOT expect the hostage taker to demonstrate his power through a show of violence.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not sure

Answer: (B)

In hostage situations, power is usually asserted through intimidation, including threats or the use of violence. The hostage taker aims to control the situation by signaling that harm could occur, which pressures others to comply with demands or stay calm to reduce risk. Because of this dynamic, you would indeed expect some demonstration of power—whether a threat or an act of violence—rather than not expecting it at all. The statement suggests you shouldn’t expect such displays, which isn’t accurate in most cases. While not every incident escalates to violence, the possibility of intimidation and harm is a common feature of how these situations are managed.