Definition and psychological mechanisms of Stockholm syndrome
Stockholm Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which hostages or abductees sympathize with or even feel affection for the perpetrators who kidnapped or threatened them.
It originates from a 1973 bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, where hostages were observed sympathizing with and later defending the perpetrators.
On August 23, 1973, two armed robbers broke into the Creditbanken bank in Stockholm, Sweden and took four bank employees hostage.
This incident lasted for a whopping six days, during which the hostages had to live in the same space as the assailants and follow the robbers' instructions.
Over time, the hostages began to feel sympathy for the robbers, and later even began to mistrust the police response and even tried to protect the robbers.
This hostage reaction was very unusual at the time, and the term ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ was coined to describe it.
Stockholm syndrome can be explained through several psychological mechanisms.
Survival Instinct
Hostages and victims show an instinctive response to minimize conflict with the perpetrator in order to survive. This can be interpreted as an attempt to reduce the threat posed to oneself by complying with or even sympathizing with the perpetrator.
Cognitive dissonance
Victims may develop positive feelings toward the offender in order to resolve the psychological conflict in their situation. This can be explained by the cognitive dissonance theory, where the victim reinterprets the perpetrator positively in order to reconcile their fears with reality.
Dependencies
In dire situations, victims become dependent on their abusers for survival. During this process, if the perpetrator shows minimal kindness or consideration, the victim overestimates this and becomes emotionally dependent on the perpetrator.
Cases of Stockholm Syndrome
1. Patty Hearst incident
In 1974, Patty Hearst, the daughter of a media tycoon in the United States, was kidnapped by an armed revolutionary group. After her kidnapping, Hearst actively cooperated with her kidnappers, participating in a bank robbery, which is often cited as a prime example of Stockholm Syndrome.
2. Natasha Kampusch case
Signs of Stockholm Syndrome were also seen in the case of 10-year-old Natasha Kampusch in Austria, where she was kidnapped and held captive for eight years. She expressed great sadness when an incarcerated offender committed suicide and also described him in a positive light.
3. Elizabeth Smart case
A similar case occurred in the United States when Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped and held captive for nine months. Smart survived her captivity by complying with her assailant's orders, which she explained in a later interview that she had no choice but to do for her own survival.
Research and theories about Stockholm Syndrome are still controversial.
Some psychologists claim that this phenomenon is exaggerated or misinterpreted.
They argue that the hostage's or victim's behavior is simply part of a survival strategy and cannot be viewed as a specific psychological syndrome.
Additionally, there is criticism that the concept of Stockholm Syndrome can be detrimental to victims of sexual crimes or domestic violence when applied to them.
This is because there is a risk that victims' suffering will be underestimated because they tend to justify their situation or protect the perpetrator.
Victims suffering from Stockholm Syndrome require psychological treatment after the incident. The treatment process mainly consists of the following methods:
It is important for victims to understand the distorted emotions that arise from their relationship with the perpetrator and to correct them.
In this process, victims are helped to reinterpret their feelings and behaviors and express them in healthy ways.
It is important for victims to build a support system of trusted family, friends, and professional counselors.
This allows victims to recover in a safe environment.
It is necessary for victims to hold perpetrators accountable and protect their rights through legal procedures.
This plays an important role in helping victims understand and overcome their experiences.
Stockholm syndrome is a complex psychological phenomenon, and there are many reasons why hostages or victims sympathize with their perpetrators.
This phenomenon can be explained by several psychological mechanisms, such as survival instinct, cognitive dissonance, and dependence, and their existence has been confirmed through various cases.
However, there are also critical views on this concept, and there is a need to be wary of the negative impact it may have on victims.
Above all, it is important to ensure that victims of Stockholm Syndrome receive appropriate psychological support and legal protection.
It originates from a 1973 bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, where hostages were observed sympathizing with and later defending the perpetrators.
On August 23, 1973, two armed robbers broke into the Creditbanken bank in Stockholm, Sweden and took four bank employees hostage.
This incident lasted for a whopping six days, during which the hostages had to live in the same space as the assailants and follow the robbers' instructions.
Over time, the hostages began to feel sympathy for the robbers, and later even began to mistrust the police response and even tried to protect the robbers.
This hostage reaction was very unusual at the time, and the term ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ was coined to describe it.
Stockholm syndrome can be explained through several psychological mechanisms.
Survival Instinct
Hostages and victims show an instinctive response to minimize conflict with the perpetrator in order to survive. This can be interpreted as an attempt to reduce the threat posed to oneself by complying with or even sympathizing with the perpetrator.
Cognitive dissonance
Victims may develop positive feelings toward the offender in order to resolve the psychological conflict in their situation. This can be explained by the cognitive dissonance theory, where the victim reinterprets the perpetrator positively in order to reconcile their fears with reality.
Dependencies
In dire situations, victims become dependent on their abusers for survival. During this process, if the perpetrator shows minimal kindness or consideration, the victim overestimates this and becomes emotionally dependent on the perpetrator.
Cases of Stockholm Syndrome
1. Patty Hearst incident
In 1974, Patty Hearst, the daughter of a media tycoon in the United States, was kidnapped by an armed revolutionary group. After her kidnapping, Hearst actively cooperated with her kidnappers, participating in a bank robbery, which is often cited as a prime example of Stockholm Syndrome.
2. Natasha Kampusch case
Signs of Stockholm Syndrome were also seen in the case of 10-year-old Natasha Kampusch in Austria, where she was kidnapped and held captive for eight years. She expressed great sadness when an incarcerated offender committed suicide and also described him in a positive light.
3. Elizabeth Smart case
A similar case occurred in the United States when Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped and held captive for nine months. Smart survived her captivity by complying with her assailant's orders, which she explained in a later interview that she had no choice but to do for her own survival.
Research and theories about Stockholm Syndrome are still controversial.
Some psychologists claim that this phenomenon is exaggerated or misinterpreted.
They argue that the hostage's or victim's behavior is simply part of a survival strategy and cannot be viewed as a specific psychological syndrome.
Additionally, there is criticism that the concept of Stockholm Syndrome can be detrimental to victims of sexual crimes or domestic violence when applied to them.
This is because there is a risk that victims' suffering will be underestimated because they tend to justify their situation or protect the perpetrator.
Victims suffering from Stockholm Syndrome require psychological treatment after the incident. The treatment process mainly consists of the following methods:
It is important for victims to understand the distorted emotions that arise from their relationship with the perpetrator and to correct them.
In this process, victims are helped to reinterpret their feelings and behaviors and express them in healthy ways.
It is important for victims to build a support system of trusted family, friends, and professional counselors.
This allows victims to recover in a safe environment.
It is necessary for victims to hold perpetrators accountable and protect their rights through legal procedures.
This plays an important role in helping victims understand and overcome their experiences.
Stockholm syndrome is a complex psychological phenomenon, and there are many reasons why hostages or victims sympathize with their perpetrators.
This phenomenon can be explained by several psychological mechanisms, such as survival instinct, cognitive dissonance, and dependence, and their existence has been confirmed through various cases.
However, there are also critical views on this concept, and there is a need to be wary of the negative impact it may have on victims.
Above all, it is important to ensure that victims of Stockholm Syndrome receive appropriate psychological support and legal protection.