Stockholm syndrome
a psychological condition where hostages become sympathetic to their captors
TRANSLATION
Stockholm-Syndrom
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
"The only really funny joke was Microsoft's assertion that it has 'widespread public support' for its Freedom To Innovate campaign. If it has, then this is a clear case of what James Bond calls 'Stockholm Syndrome', whereby captive hostages come to love their captors."
(Guy Kewney - PC Magazine,6/2000)
(Guy Kewney - PC Magazine,6/2000)
Did you
know?
Did you know?
In 1973, four bank employees in Stockholm, Sweden were taken hostage and held for 131 hours, during which they not only grew sympathetic to their two captors, but actually came to fear the police. Afterward, they praised the captors for having "given their lives back," and visited them in prison. A female hostage even went on to marry one of the hostage-takers.
Psychologists say this phenomenon, later called the Stockholm Syndrome, is a defense mechanism for coping with extreme fear and complete helplessness. A more recent example apparently occurred during the December 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines jet, when some passengers became friendly with one terrorist, sharing jokes, singing songs, and even exchanging gifts with him.
In 1973, four bank employees in Stockholm, Sweden were taken hostage and held for 131 hours, during which they not only grew sympathetic to their two captors, but actually came to fear the police. Afterward, they praised the captors for having "given their lives back," and visited them in prison. A female hostage even went on to marry one of the hostage-takers.
Psychologists say this phenomenon, later called the Stockholm Syndrome, is a defense mechanism for coping with extreme fear and complete helplessness. A more recent example apparently occurred during the December 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines jet, when some passengers became friendly with one terrorist, sharing jokes, singing songs, and even exchanging gifts with him.
