Missing Adult’s and Children’s Behaviours: Exploration of the Narrative Action System Model Daniel Hunt, Dr Maria Ioannou and Dr Laura Hammond International Research Centre for Investigative Psychology University of Huddersfield Daniel.Hunt@hud.ac.uk

Missing Persons Background Around 300,000 reports made annually Majority remain within a five-mile radius, located within 48 hours, and experience no harm Majority of research focus on antecedent influences or measurable statistics of the missing period Complex and challenging nature Missing Persons Background

Narrative Action System Model Understanding behaviour via individualised psychological meanings Frye’s (1957) circle of mythoi McAdams’ (1998, 2012) communion and agency Canter’s (1994) criminal ‘inner narratives’ Canter, Kaouri & Ioannou’s (2003) offender roles Narrative action system model Narrative Action System Model

Narrative Action System Model Role Mode Narrative Potency Intimacy Victim Integrative Irony Low High Revenger Conservative Tragedy Professional Adaptive Adventure Hero Expressive Quest Note: Sourced from Canter and Youngs (2009, p. 162).

Incorporation of Payne’s (1992, 1995) missing typology Runaways (voluntary) Throwaways (thrown out) Pushaways (behaviours of others) Fallaways (lost contact) Takeaways (abducted) Utilised framework of the Narrative Action System model Mixed methods design The Present Study

Methodology 50 archival missing persons police case files Differentiated into child (N = 32) or adult (N = 18) groups Content analysis of police case files Smallest Space Analysis [SSA] Methodology

Smallest Space Analysis [SSA] Production of a visual, geometric ‘space’ Relationship of each variable measured with every other variable The higher the correlation, the closer together their representative points will be Ability to perform additional analysis based on the clusters of variables Smallest Space Analysis [SSA]

SSA results for missing children sample Figure 1. SSA geometric plot indicating the four narrative action system model themes within the child sample, comprising of a .14 coefficient of alienation

SSA results for missing children sample Figure 1. SSA geometric plot indicating the four narrative action system model themes within the child sample, comprising of a .14 coefficient of alienation

SSA results for missing adults sample Figure 2. SSA geometric plot indicating the four narrative action system model themes within the adult sample comprising of a .15 coefficient of alienation

SSA results for missing adults sample Figure 2. SSA geometric plot indicating the four narrative action system model themes within the adult sample comprising of a .15 coefficient of alienation

Pushaway’s Conservative Tragedy Individuals feel forced to go missing Canter’s revenger role High intimacy, high potency Previous victims of violent, sexual or theft crimes Longest time spent as missing Pushaway’s Conservative Tragedy

Throwaway’s Expressive Quest Missing is a temporary solution Canter’s hero role Low potency, low intimacy High likelihood of substance problems Mixed distances, locations and times Throwaway’s Expressive Quest

Runaway’s Adaptive Adventure Missing is the demonstration of unhappiness Seeking material gains and regaining control Canter’s professional role High potency, low intimacy Prior criminal convictions Victim of sexual crime Travelled greater distances Located in short time frames Runaway’s Adaptive Adventure

Fallaway’s Integrative Irony Individual has fallen away from social networks Canter’s victim role Low potency, high intimacy Expresses intent for self-harm and/or suicide Travelled shortest distance Located in the quickest time Fallaway’s Integrative Irony

Implications and Applications Development for a stronger, integrated model Identification of current and future risk factors Reduction of financial costs required Ability to build on current findings Implications and Applications

Limitations and Future Research Small sample size Use of police recorded data Incorporate first-hand interviews Exploration of consistency and change Limitations and Future Research

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