Stockholm

SyndromeCHARLES CASE

JUNE 3RD, 2016

Why I chose this topic?

Long story short: I thought it would be interesting

I was curious as to how someone in a traumatic

situation could love someone who was causing it

Who discovered Stockholm

syndrome?

Term coined by criminologist Nils Bejerot

Named after a hostage situation in a bank in

Stockholm, Sweden in August 1973

Started to enter psychology terminology by

the late 1970s

What happened in August 1973?

Four bank workers were kept hostage in Stockholm’s Kreditbanken between August 23rd

and August 29th, 1973

Developed a positive relationship with captor

Claimed that captor treated them nicely, despite being restrained and threats of being killed

When negotiating with police, the captor was granted a getaway car, but the hostages wanted to go with him, which the police refused

When interviewed years later, one of the hostages said she still sympathized with her captor.

What causes Stockholm syndrome?

Unconscious attempt at self-preservation

Minor acts of kindness/absence of harm can

lead to a positive association with a

captor/abuser

Getting to know a captor over time can lead

to sympathy

Self-delusion can lead victims to think the

captor is trying to protect them

How does Stockholm syndrome

connect to other mental illnesses?

Those who suffer as a result of domestic

abuse or kidnapping can develop PTSD

Can also be linked to depression and/or

anxiety (especially when initially removed

from situation)

In an abuse situation, Battered Woman

Syndrome can develop

How to prevent this scenario from

happening to you

No way to actually prevent Stockholm

syndrome

However preventing kidnapping is more likely

Don’t accept rides from people you don’t trust

Walk with other people, if possible

Run away and scream

Key Terms and Questions

Stockholm syndrome

Captor

Self-preservation

What would you do in a

kidnapping situation?

What country did the term

“Stockholm syndrome” originate?