Stockholm Syndrome

Stockholm Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where hostages or victims of kidnapping develop positive feelings, empathy, or loyalty toward their captors. This unusual bond can emerge from the stress and fear of captivity, leading victims to identify with their captors as a coping mechanism for survival. It can create a sense of dependency and even lead to defenders of the captor's actions. The term originated from a bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1973, where hostages began to sympathize with their abductors. This syndrome illustrates the complexities of human psychology under duress.