Stockholm Syndrome

Overview

Mr. Noble Psychology 1 LOHS

 Background

What is Stockholm Syndrome?

• “Stockholm Syndrome” first coined by Professor
Nils Bejerot to explain the phenomenon of hostages
bonding with their captors.
• Stockholm, Sweden 1973, two bank robbers held four
people hostages for six days.
• Wide publicity: hostages came to care about their captors
and perceive them as protecting them against the police.
• The syndrome, or cluster of symptoms, observed in
hostages, cult members, battered women and victims of
sexual and physical abuse.
 The Case
August 23rd, 1973
Two machine-gun carrying criminals entered
bank in Stockholm, Sweden.
Firing guns, one prison escapee, Jan-Erik
Olsson, announced to bank employees
"The party has just begun!"
Bank robbers held four hostages (three
women, one man) for next 131 hours.
Hostages strapped with dynamite and held in
a bank vault until rescue on August 28th.
 Outcome

• After their rescue, hostages exhibited a shocking attitude considering

they were threatened, abused and feared for their lives for over five
days.
• In their media interviews, it was clear that they supported their
captors and actually feared law enforcement personnel who came to
their rescue.
• Hostages began to feel captors were protecting them from police.
• One female hostage later became engaged to one of the criminals
• Another developed legal defense fund to aid in criminal defense fees.
• Clearly, the hostages had “bonded” emotionally with their captors.
 Situational
It has been recognized many years before
the ‘Syndrome’ was diagnosed--and was
found in studies of other hostage, prisoner,
or abusive situations such as:
– Abused Children
– Battered/Abused Women
– Prisoners of War
– Cult Members
– Criminal Hostage Situations
– Controlling/Intimidating
Relationships
 Symptoms 1
• Emotional bonding w) captor/abuser
• Requiring victim isolation from
outside world
• Subjecting victim to:
– sexual assault
– threats of harm to self
– threats of harm to self family
– demanding conformity to dress and
culture different than previous norm
• Seeking favor & approval from
perpetrator
• Dependency on perpetrator for
security & purpose of existence
• Befriending & caring for perpetrator
 Symptoms 2
• Resenting police & proper
authorities for rescue attempts
• Losing one's own identify in order to
identify with the captor/abuser
• Seeing things from perspective of
perpetrator
• Valuing every small gesture of
kindness (i.e. letting them live)
• Refusing to seek freedom even given
the opportunity
 Survival Strategy

• Many psychologists and psychiatrists have

considered the ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ a survival
strategy where there is:
– Constant threat to physical & psychological survival
– Condition of helplessness and hopelessness
– Isolation & loss of support systems from outside world
– Context of trauma & terror that shatters previously held
assumptions
– Perception that survival depends on total surrender &
compliance
 Vulnerability
• Obviously, not everyone in hostage situation will
fall victim to ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ -- Individuals
are most vulnerable, if they:
– Lack clear set of core values that define
one's identify
– Lack clear sense of meaning and purpose
for one's life
– Lack track record of overcoming
difficulties
– Lack strong personal faith
– Feel that one's life has always been
controlled by powerful others
– Are unhappy in life (depressed, etc.)
– Strong need for approval by authority
figures
– Wish to be somebody else
 Why Cover for Captors

Intuitive thinking: afraid for life and

safety--and actions were inspired by self
preservation.

Counter intuitive thinking: concerned

about what would have happened to
captor, whom she/he now counted on
for necessities of life.
 Getting Help
• Psychotherapy
• Trauma therapy?
• How can one gain an understanding of one’s
distorted thinking and confusing feelings about
being a hostage?
• How does one help the client to appropriately
direct her/his anger at her/his abuse?
• How does one help another to integrate the past
kidnapping with the present reality (to rewrite
history)?
• Others can also help. Some suggestions:
– Allow sufficient time and space to recover
– Show understanding and empathy
– Provide strong and consistent support groups
 Stockholm Syndrome

Overview

Mr. Noble Psychology 1 LOHS