Stockholm syndrome - what is it?

This term appeared after the events taking place in the capital of Sweden - Stockholm, August 23, 1973. A prisoner who escaped from prison was wounded by a policeman and seized the bank building along with the employees inside. They are a man and three women. After, the criminal demanded that his cellmate be brought, and the request was executed. In an attempt to free the hostages, one of the police officers continued the opening in the roof and took one of the attackers' faces off the camera - in response, shots followed. The police used a gas attack, and released the hostages intact and safe, what was the surprise of those surrounding the subsequent reaction of the released. Instead of gratitude, they stated that they were more afraid of police actions than of criminals, because they did not offend all five days of captivity. When trials were conducted, one of the attackers managed to convince the public that he acted for the benefit of the enslaved and was acquitted. The second defendant was sentenced to 10 years, but on a regular basis received letters with words of support.

Stockholm syndrome, what is it and what does it consist of?

This term is usually called a state where the victim takes the position of the offender and tries to justify his actions for himself and others. A peculiar protective reaction of the psyche, when a person is in danger, does not want to take the whole seriousness of the situation, explains the criminal acts towards himself as an extreme necessity. Stockholm syndrome is a rare phenomenon, only 8% of cases, but because of its uniqueness, it has become very interesting for studying.

Basically, this is due to terrorist hostage taking, including political beliefs, kidnapping, in order to obtain ransom and sale into slavery, in conditions of military captivity. This syndrome occurs after three to four or more days in contact with the kidnapper. Moreover, the syndrome can be of a massive nature, spread to many captured overnight.

Household Stockholm syndrome

Cases of Stockholm syndrome in the family are very often when one of the partners takes the victim's position and tolerates the moral or physical torture of another. Women often suffer from the syndrome, justifying beatings and humiliation by provoking the abuser themselves.

The syndrome is affected by people who have suffered psychological trauma from childhood - they received little attention and everything that the child did not do, was subjected to crushing criticism, forming a feeling of inferiority. Also, the endured sexual violence entails a persistent conviction that there is no chance for a normal relationship, it is better to be content with what you have. Sufferers, in order to avoid aggression, try to take the side of the attacker, protect him in the eyes of others, or simply hide the events in the family. The victim will refuse assistance from the outside, denying his position, since the situation can last for years, and has become a habitual way of survival - adapting to life in violence. Often, realizing the seriousness of the situation, and realizing that it is a victim, a person does not dare to break the vicious circle, being afraid of loneliness .