Stockholm Syndrome, When Hostages Sympathize with Kidnappers

Medical Video: When kidnapped become brainwashed

If you've heard of strange cases where abductees actually pity, like, or even justify their kidnapper's actions, that means it's an example of the Stockholm syndrome. Stockholm Syndrome is a psychological reaction characterized by sympathy or affection that arises from abducted victims of the perpetrators. However, lately the definition of the Stockholm syndrome has become more widespread, not only covering abduction cases but also cases of violence and abuse.

How can the Stockholm syndrome occur?

Stockholm syndrome appears as a formation reaction (also known as reaction formation) that occurs because the victim experiences very serious emotional and physical stress. Formation reactions themselves are one form of self-defense mechanism that is consciously or unconsciously formed by victims to protect themselves from traumatic events, conflicts, and various negative feelings such as stress, anxiety, fear, shame, or anger. Basically, the reaction of a formation means that the victim actually shows the behavior or attitude that is contrary to what is actually felt. When a hostage or victim of domestic violence is detained in a frightening situation, the victim will feel angry, embarrassed, sad, afraid, and hate the perpetrator. However, bearing the burden of these feelings for quite a long time will make the victim's mental exhaustion. As a result, victims begin to form self-defense mechanisms by forming reactions that are completely opposite to what is really felt. So, fear will turn into compassion, anger will turn into love, and hatred will turn into a sense of solidarity.

In addition, some experts mentioned that acts taken by hostage takers such as feeding or allowing victims to live were translated by victims as a form of salvation. This might happen because the victim feels that his life is threatened and the only person who can save and accept him is the perpetrator himself through the food provided or leaving the victim alive.

In some cases, the victim can even feel the emotional closeness with the perpetrator. Intense interaction and communication between actors and victims who are usually isolated can make the victim see his resemblance to the offender whether socially, emotionally, or psychologically. From there, compassion and sympathy arose for the perpetrators.

Why is it called the Stockholm syndrome?

The name Stockholm syndrome was taken from a bank robbery Sveritges bank case that occurred in 1973 in Stockholm, Sweden. This robbery began when an accomplished criminal named Jan-Erik Olsson stormed into the bank with a firearm. Four bank employees were trapped inside and held hostage by the perpetrators. Shortly thereafter, criminal associate Jan-Erik Olsson whom he met in prison, Clark Olofsson, helped take the hostage. The hostages are locked in a money storage room (vault) for 131 hours or around 6 days. Investigative reports show that during this time the hostages received various abuses and death threats.

However, when the police sought negotiations with the two robbers, the four hostages actually helped and offered advice to Jan-Erik and Clark not to surrender to the police. They even criticized the efforts of the police and the government that were insensitive to the way the two robbers held them hostage. After the two robbers were caught, the four hostages refused to testify against Jan-Erik and Clark in court. They actually stated that the robbers had returned their lives and they were more afraid of the police than the two robbers. The only female hostage in the robbery even expressed her love for Jan-Erik until they were engaged.

The term Stockholm syndrome was born from this phenomenon when a criminologist and psychiatrist, Nils Bejerot, used it as an explanation of what was experienced by the hostages. Since then, similar cases are also known as Stockholm syndrome.

Signs of the Stockholm syndrome

Stockholm Syndrome is a disorder and abuse of unhealthy relationships. So, like other syndromes, the Stockholm syndrome also shows signs or symptoms. The following are various symptoms of the Stockholm syndrome that arise in victims.

The development of positive feelings towards kidnappers, hostages, or perpetrators of violence
The development of negative feelings towards family, relatives, authorities, or the community who try to free or save victims from the perpetrators
Showing support and approval of the words, actions, and values that are trusted by the perpetrator
There are positive feelings that arise or are conveyed by the perpetrator to the victim
The victim volunteered to help the perpetrator, even to commit a crime
Do not want to participate or be involved in the effort to release or rescue victims from the perpetrators

Efforts to rehabilitate the victims of the Stockholm syndrome

Healing for victims of the Stockholm syndrome cannot be done in an instant. Efforts to rehabilitate victims will take a long time and process, depending on how strong the relationship is built with the perpetrator and whether the victim is still communicating with the perpetrator. Like most cases of serious trauma, a supportive approach and psychotherapy must be implemented. Also note if there are complications such as depression so that it can be dealt with immediately.

READ ALSO: