The following were the objectives pursued in this study: 1. Analyzing from the victims' narrations their captivity conditions and the treatment received from their captors, and 2. Identifying, from the social constructionism point of view, the meaning of abductions as built by the own kidnapped themselves. Case study and the analysis of narrative reports was the method used in this survey. The sample was integrated by eight victims (two women and six men, seven adults and one minor) having survived economic abductions, after being kept for three to five days on average. Some victims remained captive in unhealthy places and others at locations adapted with basic services. The violence exhibited by the kidnappers was both instrumental and senseless, with no other purpose than inflicting humiliation on their captives. The kidnapping was variedly and distinctly described as "a terrible deed you would never wish anyone to experience; a consequence of sin; a strength test imposed by God; a degrading and inhuman act; an awful action aimed at obtaining money", among other definitions.

Victim victimology Extortive kidnapping/abduction Economic kidnapping/abduction Kidnapping/abduction for ransom Crimes

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