13 Rare Psychological Syndromes/Disorders

11. Stockholm Syndrome

The psychological tendency of a hostage to bond with, identify with, or sympathize with his or her captor. Despite the danger and the harm inflicted on the victims by their captors, victims feel strong emotional ties and a positive relationship with their captors.

Imagine this situation: you experience something terrifying out of the blue– you are kidnapped or otherwise taken hostage, and you are certain you will die sooner or later. Then, you experience what psychiatrist Dr. Frank Ochberg describes as a type of infantilisation: like a child, you cannot eat, speak, or go to the toilet without permission.

You interpret the lack of abuse as an act of kindness, and other acts, such as being given food, evokes gratitude within you– you do not think about or accept the fact that this person, who is the only one keeping you alive, is simultaneously keeping you hostage and put you in that situation to start with.

This positive feeling towards your captor is known as the Stockholm Effect.

Read our full article here on this when you have time: Stockholm Syndrome