Stockholm Syndrome can be defined as a psychological response in which an irrational bond is formed between the hostage and their captor. The syndrome was named after the famous bank robbery that took place in Stockholm, Sweden wherein the hostages began to identify with their captors.
With this syndrome, the hostages start sympathizing with or identifying with their abuser/captor. They may begin to develop positive feelings towards their captor. This bond can develop over some days to weeks or even years of captivity.
This bond is usually developed when the captor threatens the victim, contemplates, and decides no longer to harm or kill the victim. This leads the victim to feel relief at the possible elimination of the death threat which gets translated to feelings of gratitude towards the captor for not harming them. As the victims are dependent on the captor for their survival, they misinterpret even small acts of kindness as compassion.
Some signs of Stockholm Syndrome include:
-
Developing positive feelings towards their captor or abuser;
-
Developing negative feelings towards authorities, family, friends, or anyone who might help them escape from their situation;
-
Minimal to no effort to escape;
-
Feeling pity towards their captor and adopting the same values and goals as their captor;
Although Stockholm syndrome is usually associated with being held in a hostage or kidnapping situation, it can also be observed in romantic, family, and other interpersonal relationships. Victims of domestic violence, child abuse, incest survivors, etc are often among the populations affected by this syndrome.
Not all captives who are in such situations develop Stockholm syndrome. It is believed that this bond develops as a result of the victim’s defense mechanism which helps them to survive such high-risk situations. People who have this syndrome also seem to experience guilt, confusion, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
If you believe you have Stockholm syndrome or know someone who might, you should reach out to a therapist. A therapist can help you learn some healthy ways to cope and teach you how to process your emotions.
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
About MindTribe.in.
MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.
About the Author.
Kanchi Jain is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.