Stockholm syndrome, a complicated psychological phenomenon, dates back to a bank robbery half a century ago. This essay investigates the genesis and evolution of this fascinating ailment.
It is a frequently used phrase that describes the bond that victims of a kidnapping or hostage situation can have with their captors. It is named after a failed bank robbery in Sweden’s capital 50 years ago this week.
Stockholm syndrome, initially called “Norrmalmstorg syndrome” after the square where the bank robbery occurred, has since been used for hostage taking around the world, notably the 1970s kidnapping of the heiress of the Patty Hearst newspaper.
Below is an explanation of Stockholm syndrome and how it arose.
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- Stockholm Syndrome: What is it?
- Why is it called Stockholm syndrome?
- What happened in that bank robbery?
- Other examples of Stockholm syndrome
Stockholm Syndrome: What is it?
In cases of hostage-taking and kidnapping, it refers to the bond that can form between hostages and their captors. In extreme cases, hostages may develop feelings for their captors and their cause, and even turn against the authorities.
Experts characterize it as a psychological coping method adopted by certain hostages to tolerate being held captive and abused, rather than a psychiatric diagnosis.
Credit: dtnext
Why is it called Stockholm syndrome?
The word was coined by Swedish criminologist and psychiatrist Nils Bejerot, who assisted police during a confrontation during a bank robbery in Stockholm in August 1973. During the siege, several hostages supported the kidnappers over the police, a phenomenon that Bejerot called “Norrmalmstorg syndrome”. “. It became known as Stockholm syndrome on a global scale.
Susanne Bejerot, Bejerot’s daughter, says her father, who died in 1988, never imagined the name would gain such global traction. “He had no idea it would become such a big deal,” she said Wednesday.
Credit: AFP
What happened in that bank robbery?
On August 23, 1973, while on leave from prison, convicted thief Jan-Erik Olsson, 32, attempted to rob a bank in central Stockholm. A standoff ensued after police immediately responded.
Armed with a submachine gun, Olsson kidnapped four bank employees and demanded 3,000,000 Swedish crowns, a bulletproof vest, and an escape car. He also requested the release of his former prison mate, Clark Olofsson, and his transportation to the bank. The authorities agreed.
The drama unfolded on Swedish television as police tried to persuade Olsson and Olofsson to surrender. Prime Minister Olof Palme also participated in the talks.
At one point, a captive, Kristin Enmark, told Palme over the phone that she was terrified of the police, not the two criminals. She pleaded with the authorities to comply with her demands. Enmark later stated that she had formed a bond with Olofsson, whom she considered her guarantee of safety.
Two police officers were shot during the siege, which ended on August 28 when police stormed the bank, arrested Olsson and Olofsson, and rescued the hostages.
Credit: AFP
Other examples of Stockholm syndrome
Patty Hearst, the 19-year-old granddaughter of a wealthy newspaper magnate, was kidnapped in the United States by the Symbionese Liberation Army, an unknown armed revolutionary group, the following year, 1974.
After Hearst pledged his devotion to the SLA, disowned his family, and posed for a portrait brandishing a gun in front of the SLA flag two months later, questions were raised about his ties to his captors and the concept of Stockholm syndrome. In 1975 she was captured and sentenced to seven years in prison.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter commuted his sentence. He was later granted clemency by President Bill Clinton.
Stockholm syndrome has also been used to describe victims of domestic violence or child sexual abuse who form relationships with their abusers.
Stockholm syndrome, which arose from a terrifying bank robbery in Stockholm 50 years ago, continues to fascinate and baffle researchers and the general public alike.
It sheds light on how complex human psychology is and how our mind deals with inconceivable events.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn