Psychological flexibility and crisis negotiation: a proposal for integrating the ACT-Hexaflex model into policing

Abstract

This article investigates the integration of the Hexaflex model, derived from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as a communication strategy in police crisis negotiation. The study is based on the premise that operational effectiveness in critical incidents, such as suicidal crises or hostage situations, depends on the negotiator’s ability to move from empiricism to a scientific approach capable of managing the cognitive rigidity of the Critical Event Causer (CEC). Methodologically, the research is characterized as applied and qualitative in nature, using the deductive method through a systematic bibliographic review in national and international databases. The analysis is grounded in the articulation between crisis management doctrine and psychological flexibility, focusing on promoting the psychological flexibility of the CEC. The results propose the Communicational Hexaflex as a practical tool that converts the pillars of acceptance, cognitive defusion, and values into specific verbal interventions capable of disarming resistance and mitigating the physiological stress of both actors involved. It is concluded that adopting this model humanizes police action and enhances the likelihood of peaceful outcomes, although its full implementation requires continuous training programs and validation through controlled simulations to consolidate the transition from emotional reactivity to choices guided by the preservation of life.