Stockholm Syndrome: Victim-

Perpetrator Bonds
I n the wake of a traumatic event,
individuals may develop an unanticipated
bond with their abusers or captors.
Known as the Stockholm syndrome, this
psychological occurrence intrigues the public and
experts alike, shedding light on survival instincts
and human fear. The term first originated from a
bank robbery in Stockholm, in 1973, in which four
bank employee hostages formed a connection with
their captor, Jan-Erik Olsson, during a week-long
ordeal.
Furthermore, one of the major ways Stockholm
syndrome can be manifested is sensing positive
The Consultant Psychiatrist and Sexologist in Fortis
feelings towards the captor and identifying with
Hospital, Mulund, Dr. Sanjay Kumavat, identifies
their perspectives. This is developed through
that Stockholm syndrome pertains to a variety of
emotions of sympathy and compassion, which leads
symptoms. It can be developed in accordance with
to believing the captor’s actions may be justified
several factors, including victims believing that their
despite being harmful or derogatory. Overall, this
survival depends on their captor. When individuals
disposition allows victims to minimise the severity of
find themselves in situations where their wellbeing is
their situation and may even blame themselves in
threatened, one survival mechanism would be to
the long term.
align themselves with said captor as a means of self-
preservation. One of the hostages from the robbery
Despite countless examples, some psychiatrists still
in 1973, Kristin Enmark, claims that “there was no
call the syndrome a “constructed concept” used to
love or physical attraction” for the captors and that
justify the failures of the State. Many do not
it was solely an attempt to survive.
consider Stockholm syndrome to be a psychiatric
diagnosis but instead a way of comprehending the
Another viewpoint focuses on the nature of captive
feelings and emotional response that some
circumstances such that captors present inconsistent
individuals have towards their captor. So, as we
displays of kindness and cruelty, leading to the
unravel this condition, we're compelled to ask: can
victim’s confusion and emotional reliance. This
we merely brush off the experiences of many
intermittent warmth may be used by abusers to
survivors and reduce their emotional truths to mere
maintain manipulative control over their hostages.
constructs?
By alternating between moments of compassion and
threats, victims cling to any affectionate interactions
as a source of hope, undermining the victim’s sense
of self-worth. Consulting Clinical Psychologist Dr
Joseph M. Carver describes this tactic as the small
kindness perception and states that when an abuser
shows the victim some small kindness, even though
it is to their benefit, the victim interprets that small
kindness as a positive trait of the captor (Carver,
2014).
Bibliography
Carver, J. M., PhD. (2014, December 20). Stockholm Syndrome: The Psychological
Mystery of Loving an Abuser, page 1. CounsellingResource.com: Psychology,
Therapy & Mental Health Resources. https://counsellingresource.com/therapy/self-
help/stockholm/
Lambert, L. (2024, March 5). Stockholm syndrome | Definition, Examples, & Facts.
Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/Stockholm-
syndrome#:~:text=How%20did%20Stockholm%20syndrome%20get,they%20had%2
0an%20amicable%20relationship.
Thompson, J. (2021, April 16). What is Stockholm Syndrome? WebMD.
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-stockholm-syndrome