Stockholm Syndrome: origin, symptoms and famous cases

Stockholm syndrome is a psychological state presented by someone who was kidnapping victim and created affective bonds with your kidnapper.

Although the relationship is forced, the hostage develops an emotional identification with the person who kidnaps him, often no longer fearing him and starting to trust him.

Origin of the expression “Stockholm syndrome”

The origin of the expression dates back to a robbery that took place in Stockholm, Sweden, on August 23, 1973.

That day, a hooded man broke into a branch of the Kreditbanken bank in Norrmalmstorg Square, Stockholm. Armed with a machine gun and explosives, the criminal took four employees hostage.

The kidnapping lasted six days and during this period, the kidnapper and hostages created emotional bonds, even playing cards as a way to pass the time.

The term was pointed out by the criminologist and psychologist Nils Bejerot, who participated in the negotiations between the police and the kidnapper during the six days of the robbery.

Characteristics and symptoms of Stockholm syndrome

It is believed that the Emotional identification of the hostage with the kidnapper initially, it is a defense mechanism generated by the fear of suffering some kind of violence or retaliation.

For this reason, any seemingly kinder attitude on the part of the kidnapper is seen in a larger way by the hostage, being seen as something of much larger proportions than it really is.

Check out the main symptoms and characteristics of a person affected by the syndrome:

  • Feeling of being protected by the criminal.
  • Empathy and friendship/love for the kidnapper.
  • Very kind and polite acts towards the person who kidnaps her.
  • Loss of the true sense of violence and the danger to which it is being exposed.

As this is a psychological problem, a victim of Stockholm syndrome needs to receive medical care, which must be carried out especially by psychologists and psychiatrists.

Depending on the specific case of each patient, antidepressants and anxiolytics may be prescribed in order to reduce or stop symptoms of depression and anxiety. Healthy eating and leisure habits, as well as physical exercise, can be extremely beneficial in the patient's recovery process.

Famous Cases of Stockholm Syndrome

In addition to the assault that gave the syndrome its name, others real cases from this psychological disorder they became famous and had, with that, great media repercussion and prominence on the world stage.

Check out the main cases of emotional bond between hostage and kidnapper:

Patty Heart

Patty Hearst_before_and_after

Patty Heart

In 1974, Patricia Campbell Hearst, better known as Patty Hearst, was kidnapped by an American terrorist group.

She was found and released from captivity 1 year and 7 months after the kidnapping. During this period, she was already considered a wanted fugitive for having committed a series of crimes.

patty went accused at trial of voluntarily joining her kidnappers, living with them and becoming an accomplice of the robberies they committed. She claimed to have been raped and threatened with death, but was still found guilty of bank robbery.

Patricia served part of the sentence and received a pardon from the then President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, and later a pardon from President Bill Clinton.

Natascha Kampusch

Natascha Kampusch_before_after

Natascha Kampusch

Natascha is an Austrian who was kidnapped by a man named Wolfgang Přiklopil in 1998, at the age of 10, when I was going to school.

During the long 8 years she was isolated from the world, the young woman was deprived of light and food, and was still the victim of constant physical, psychological and sexual aggression and humiliation.

At 18 years old, Natascha managed to escape her captivity during a moment of distraction from her kidnapper who later ended up committing suicide when he learned he was being sought by the police.

The young woman showed a certain feeling of gratitude for having been spared from various things like cigarettes, drinking and bad company thanks to the time the kidnapper had kept her in captivity. She even referred to him as a kind person and it is said that she cried a lot when she learned of his death.

Natascha's mother later revealed in a book that her daughter kept a photo of the kidnapper's coffin in her wallet.

Given this information, forensic experts began to consider the possibility that the young woman had developed Stockholm syndrome.

Difference between Stockholm syndrome and London syndrome

London syndrome is a psychological behavior totally opposite to the behavior related to Stockholm syndrome.

While in Stockholm syndrome the hostage develops a bond of affection with the kidnapper, in London syndrome the victim discuss and disagree with criminals, causing an atmosphere of dislike and animosity that can be fatal.

The term “London Syndrome” came about after a kidnapping where six Iranian Arab terrorists stormed the Iranian Embassy in London and took 20 people hostage. Among the victims, there was an employee who constantly argued with the kidnappers.

At one point, the criminals decided that one of the hostages should be killed so that they could believe in their threats and, therefore, decided to execute the hostage they were often with arguing.

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