The victim's experience of hijacking : a qualitative approach

M.A.This phenomenological study was designed to explore the victim's lived experience of undergoing a motor vehicle hijacking. The aim of the study was to add to the knowledge and understanding of this complex phenomenon. The design of the study was qualitative. Data was collected through in depth unstructured interviews with four people who had very recently been hijacked. The interviews were recorded on audio tape and transcribed verbatim for each subject. An intra-individual analysis of each subject's account rendered an understanding of the experience in context for that individual, while an inter-individual analysis of the accounts permitted a discussion of common and contrasting themes and patterns. The nature of the subjects' experiences during, immediately after and in the days following the hijacking trauma is elucidated in detail. Based both on the literature reviews of trauma and hijacking, and the findings of this study, suggested contributions towards a theoretical framework for understanding the victim's experience of motor vehicle hijacking are proposed. The findings of this study will hopefully increase understanding of what it is like to be hijacked, provide relevant information and guidelines to clinicians working with these trauma victims, and provide suggestions for future research in this field