The Effects of Caffeine and Caffeine Withdrawal/Deprivation on Hostage Negotiator Performance

Abstract

Caffeine is the most widely-used substance in the United States. Police use much more caffeine on average than most other segments of the workforce. Caffeine has both positive and negative effects on the user. The effects of caffeine and how caffeine might affect the hostage negotiator are reviewed. For the most part, use of caffeine during a hostage negotiation situation would be deleterious to negotiator performance; behaviorally, emotionally, and cognitively. Withdrawal and deprivation effects of caffeine are presented, along with discussions of how negotiator performance would be affected. General suggestions to guide negotiator use of caffeine during a hostage situation are presented.