The present study aimed to clarify the long-term psychological aftereffects of various types of sexual victimization among the Japanese female junior college students and the influences of victim-assailant relationship upon them by the use of questionnaire. Data from 434 female students were analyzed, and the following results were obtained. Sexual assault including rape caused the most profound psychological aftereffects, which is followed by stalking. It was suggested that sexual assault caused some characteristic psychological changes relating to the deterioration of selfimage. It was also indicated that certain symptoms were common such as distrust of men and avoidance of the scene of victimization. On the other hand, the influence of victim-assailant relationship differed among types of victimization. Victimization committed by acquaintance caused more serious influences than that by strangers in unwanted sexual body touch, while the latter caused more serious influences than the former in sexual assault.

Eighty seven hostage barricade incidents that occurred in Japan from the period of 1970 to 2000 were examined to analyse factors influencing hostage takers' decisions to surrender. Though previous studies on hostage takings focused on criminals' psychological and/or psychiatrical characteristics, the current analyses revealed that surrounding factors at the time of hostage takings effected hostage takers' decision making. The x² test and the logistic regression analysis showed that injuries/death of hostages' negatively influenced hostage takers' surrender, while the 'conversation between hostages and hostage takers', 'hostage takers' demands of media reports', and 'barricading within buildings' led to their surrender. Based on these findings, psychological processes of hostage takers' decision making were discussed, together with those of police officers.