One morning in August 1973, two robbers broke into a bank, the “Sveriges Kreditbank of Stockholm” in Stockholm, Sweden. After the arrival of the police, resulting in a considerable exchange of fire, this pair held hostages for six days, four people who were there.
Contrary to what one might imagine, when the police began their strategies aimed at freeing the hostages, these refused help, used their own bodies as shields to protect criminals, and even held these professionals responsible for the occurred. One of them went even further: after his release, he created a fund for the kidnappers, in order to help them with the legal expenses they would have as a result of their actions.
This particular psychological state then came to be called “Stockholm Syndrome”, in honor of the aforementioned episode. Contrary to popular belief, it's not as rare as we think, and it's not just about relationships between kidnappers and hostages. Slaves and their masters, concentration camp survivors, those subjected to private imprisonment, people who participate of destructive love relationships, and even some extreme work relationships, often fraught with harassment. moral; can trigger the frame. In all of these cases, the following are outstanding characteristics: the existence of power relations and coercion, threat of death or physical and/or psychological damage, and a prolonged period of intimidation.
In this scenario of extreme physical and mental stress, what is at stake unconsciously is the need to self-preservation on the part of the oppressed, combined with the generally erroneous idea that, in fact, there is no way to escape that situation. Therefore, he initially realizes that only by following the imposed rules will he be able to guarantee at least a small portion of his integrity.
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Gradually, the victim seeks to avoid behaviors that displease his aggressor, for the same reason mentioned above; and she also begins to interpret her kind, polite, or even nonviolent acts as evidence of his supposed sympathy for her. Such identification allows the emotional detachment from the dangerous and violent reality to which it is submitted.
Eventually, the victim begins to view that person with sympathy, and even friendship – after all, thanks to her “protection”, she is still alive. In the case of kidnapped people, one more aggravating factor: such an individual is usually their only company!
As an example, we have what Natascha Kampusch, the Austrian who lived in captivity for eight years, wrote in her book (3,096 Days, Verus Editora):
“I was still just a child, and I needed the comfort of (human) touch. So, after a few months in prison, I asked my kidnapper to hug me."
It is worth emphasizing, however, that this person, as well as many who go through this situation and behave as said, does not identify with the situation described in this text, stating that “no one is all good or bad” and that “to approach the kidnapper is not a disease; creating a cocoon of normality within the scope of a crime is not a syndrome – it's just the opposite: it's a survival strategy in a no-win situation”.
In most cases, even after their release, the victim continues to have a feeling of affection for that person. A classic example is that of some women who suffer aggression from their husbands and continue to defend them, love them and justify their aggressions.
By Mariana Araguaia
Biologist, specialist in Environmental Education
Brazil School Team
