Stockholm Syndrome

Stockholm syndrome

What exactly is this syndrome?

Let's start with a fictional story example illustrating Stockholm syndrome:

Geeta, a young woman, is kidnapped by a goon, Mahesh, and held hostage for several days. Initially, Geeta is terrified and tries to escape, but Mahesh’s firm grip and threats keep her captive.

As the days pass, Mahesh begins to show Geeta small kindnesses, like offering her food and water, and even sharing his own stories. He tells her about his troubled past and how he feels misunderstood by the world. Geeta, desperate for human connection, starts to see Mahesh as a complex person, rather than just a captor.

Despite her initial fear, Geeta begins to feel a strange sense of loyalty and empathy towards Mahesh. She starts to see the world from his perspective and even defends him when the police finally arrive to rescue her.

As the authorities take Mahesh away, Geeta feels a pang of sadness and even protests his arrest. She has developed Stockholm syndrome, a psychological response where a captive develops a strong emotional bond with their captor, often to the point of defending or identifying with them.

This story illustrates how Stockholm syndrome can occur when a person in a vulnerable situation begins to identify with their captor, often as a survival mechanism.

How did it get its name?

 This is the most fascinating topic I have researched so far. Stockholm syndrome is named after a bank robbery that happened in 1973 in Stockholm, Sweden. The bank employees were held as prisoners for six days in their bank by the robbers. They were tied up with explosives and thrown into the bank's safe room. But what happened next shocked the people, for some reason the bank employees became eerily attached to their captors. They felt bad for them and even turned away the police to get their captors arrested. Even after the situation got better and the employees got released, some of them still kept in touch with the bank robbers and refused to testify against them in court. What does this mental situation of the employees signify? …

We learn here that psychologically, to get through terrifying situations, we often attach to our captors as a way to almost survive it. The victim thinks by showing empathy and sympathy to their abuser he/she can cause less damage.

How does this syndrome initiate, main  factors:

 First of all, Stockholm Syndrome is a behavioural reaction that an individual experiences in response to a particular situation or event. There may be many such examples like hostages, kidnapping, domestic abuse, cults, prisoner of war camps, sex trafficking, abusive relationships, sports coaching, corporate jobs and many more which can cause a situation like Stockholm syndrome. It’s important to note that this syndrome is not a formal psychiatric diagnosis.

There are four factors when this syndrome takes hold,

1. The captive should feel threatened. The abuser keeps threatening the victim, either directly or indirectly, to scare and control them. The captor's goal is actually to make believe that the harm they could do is possible and may be imminent. For example, direct threats like “ If you leave me, I'll hurt you”, or indirect threats like, I'll make sure everyone knows what a bad person you are." 
2. After some period of threat, the abuser will show small kindness so that the victim believes that they are not so bad. After an abusive fight between the couple, one will bring a small gift or just act that they regret their action to their partner. Thus this shift of threat to small kindness makes the victim feel that the situation will get better. 
3. The third factor that needs to take place is being isolated from other perspectives. Like in many corporate jobs, where employees may develop a strong emotional bond with their employer or manager, even if they are treated poorly or exploited. Due to high-performance pressure, the employee isolates himself from colleagues and family, prioritizing work over health.
4.  The last condition is that the victim feels that he is not able to escape. Like in an abusive relationship, the abuser manipulates the victim into knowing some secrets and making it public, or it can be money, or hurting a person near and dear to us. This leaves the captor no option but to stay in that situation. Same as an employee, due to financial insecurities he is unable to leave the job.

These basic four factors lead the captive to justify and support the captor's actions. They feel a sense of loyalty and devotion towards their abuser and believe the captor has a good reason for their actions.

Treatment for Stockholm syndrome typically involves a combination of psychotherapeutic and supportive interventions. The goals of treatment are to:

1. Help the individual recognize and accept their situation.

2. Process their emotions and experiences.

3. Develop coping strategies.

4. Rebuild self-esteem and confidence.

5. Improve relationships with family and friends.

Treatment approaches may include:

1. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT): To change negative thought patterns and behaviors.

2. Trauma-focused therapy: To address underlying trauma and abuse.

3. Psychodynamic therapy: To explore underlying emotions and relationships.

4. Family therapy: To rebuild relationships with loved ones.

5. Group therapy: To connect with others who have experienced similar situations.

6. Support groups: To provide a safe and supportive environment.

7. Medication: To manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, or PTSD.

It's important to note that treatment should be tailored to the individual's specific needs and circumstances and should be provided by a qualified mental health professional. With appropriate treatment and support, individuals can recover from Stockholm syndrome and lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

 Here are examples of  the movies that depict Stockholm syndrome 

The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) - An FBI agent is sent to interview a serial killer, who develops a strange connection with her.

"Patty Hearst" (1988) - A biographical drama about the heiress who was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army and eventually joined their cause.

Bollywood movie Highway (2014)  A  rich girl gets kidnapped by the local goon. As time passes she starts developing a bond and sees him in a different light. Despite getting a chance to escape she chooses to stay with him.