Stockholm Syndrome
Stockholm Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where hostages or victims develop sympathetic feelings and positive attitudes towards their captors, sometimes identifying with them to an extent that they adopt similar beliefs. This concept emerged from a 1973 bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, and reflects a complex survival strategy for captives who find themselves in precarious situations. Key characteristics associated with Stockholm Syndrome include positive emotions towards captors, a lack of previous relationships between captives and captors, distrust towards authorities, and captors viewing their victims as human beings.
Research suggests that the likelihood of developing Stockholm Syndrome increases when captors do not harm their victims, the hostage situation is prolonged, and emotional contact occurs. However, it's important to note that the syndrome is relatively rare; studies indicate that only about 8 percent of hostages exhibit this behavior, often influenced by their dissatisfaction with authorities rather than genuine emotional attachment. The term has also been broadly applied to scenarios beyond hostage situations, where individuals may trust harmful entities due to complex emotional dynamics. One notable case illustrating the syndrome is that of Patricia Hearst, who was kidnapped and later participated in illegal activities alongside her captors.
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Stockholm Syndrome
Named after a 1973 bank robbery and hostage situation that occurred in Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm syndrome, also referred to as capture bonding, is a psychological phenomenon that hinges on a paradox: Hostages adopt sympathetic and positive attitudes towards their captors and identify with them, sometimes to the point of adopting the same beliefs.
Overview
Stockholm syndrome is viewed as a psychological response of a hostage or an individual in a similar situation in which a more dominant person has the power to put the victim’s life in danger. Captors use this as an advantage to make victims comply with their demands, and captives use this as a survival strategy. Experts have ascertained four characteristics common to individuals who become enmeshed in scenarios leading to Stockholm syndrome: (1) Hostages/victims have positive feelings for their captors; (2) Captives do not have a prior relationship with their captors; (3) Hostages/victims exhibit anger, fear, and general distrust toward police and other authorities; and (4) Captors come to think of their captives positively, seeing them as full human beings.
However, experts believe that these characteristics do not always occur together. Research indicates that captives will be more likely to develop Stockholm syndrome in instances where (1) their captors do not harm or abuse them; (2) the hostage situation lasts for a long time before it is resolved; (3) captive and captor have prolonged contact; and (4) the contact is characterized by a high level of emotion. But even experts disagree over the finer points of these elements. Some argue that the key is the intensity of the hostage situation, as opposed to its actual length, while others contend that the most important factor is the lack of physical and mental abuse in the captor/captive relationship.
By no means does Stockholm syndrome occur in every hostage incident. A 2009 study of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) database on hostage barricade incidents, which contains data on thousands of such federal, state, and local events, indicates that only 8 percent of hostages display evidence of Stockholm syndrome. And while captives may react negativity toward the police and other authorities, this is usually because they are dissatisfied with the pace of the hostage negotiations to free them, not because they are developing Stockholm syndrome. In fact, a retired FBI expert with over thirty years’ experience posits that the syndrome is quite rare. This is because 96 percent of all hostage situations in the United States are domestic violence cases. The captor and captive already know each other, and while such instances can be viewed as containing elements of Stockholm syndrome, they are usually categorized separately. Still, studies of such other forms of traumatic bonding are pertinent to the understanding of Stockholm syndrome.
Perhaps the most famous case of Stockholm syndrome is that of Patricia Hearst, the newspaper heiress who was kidnapped by a fringe group, the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), in 1973. The group changed her name to Tania, and she participated in SLA bank robberies on behalf of her captors.
The term "Stockholm syndrome" has also been generalized to apply to any situation where one puts trust in a person or organization that has no real concern for their well-being and may in fact prove harmful. One example was the use of the term by the Bank of America Merrill Lynch financial company in regards to investors who emphasized stocks over bonds due to the quantitative easing policies of central banks as of 2015.
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