Abstract
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.