Stockholm syndrome is a condition in which hostages develop a psychological alliance with their captors during captivity.
Victims form emotional bonds with their captors and become sympathetic toward them.
Even after being set free, the hostages refused to leave their captors and later defended them.
They also refused to testify in court against them and even helped raise money for the robbers defense.
Prevalence
Stockholm syndrome is rare.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that fewer than 8% of kidnapping victims show evidence of Stockholm syndrome .
Causes
No one knows the exact reasons why some victims develop Stockholm syndrome and others dont.
Their theory is that women in those societies faced the risk of being captured by another tribe.
Their lives were often at risk, and sometimes their children were killed.
Developing a bond with the tribe holding them captive ensured their survival.
The frequency of these abductions developed into an adaptive trait in the human population.
Developing a relationship with a captor is actually encouraged.
Forming a bond with the perpetrator can increase hostages chances for survival.
Symptoms
Individuals with Stockholm syndrome often report symptoms similar to those withPTSD.
Individuals with Stockholm syndrome often also meet the criteria foracute stress disorderor PTSD.
Treatment can involve psychotherapy and/or medication.
Psychotherapy may address specific symptoms that appear after the traumatic event, such as nightmares or flashbacks.
It might also teach individuals healthy ways to cope with theirtraumatic experience.
Examples
Recognizing instances of Stockholm syndrome isnt always clear.
In some cases, people have been accused of having it when they insist they dont.
Smart has repeatedly spoken out to say she did not have Stockholm syndrome.
Rather, she chose not to attempt escape because her captors threatened to kill her family if she did.
She stayed out of fear, not because she had positive feelings toward the couple holding her captive.
In some cases, individuals have tried to use Stockholm syndrome as their defense in court.
Researchers assert that abusive athletic coaches can victimize young athletes in a way that creates Stockholm syndrome.
They may also sympathize with the hard work their coach has to put in.
Or they might excuse mistreatment by convincing themselves that the abuse is good training.
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