At The Kalyani School, we believe in nurturing not just academic excellence but also intellectual curiosity. Our students are encouraged to think beyond textbooks, explore real-world phenomena, and express their perspectives through thoughtful writing. In this blog, Sara Agrawal from Grade X-D delves into the complex and often misunderstood psychological concept of Stockholm Syndrome. Through a blend of real-life cases, psychological insights, and pop culture references, she unpacks why victims sometimes form unexpected bonds with their captors.
Happy reading!
Why do some hostages defend their captors instead of trying to escape? Why do some victims refuse to testify against the person who held them captive? Is it love, fear, or something more complex?
To truly understand the essence of Stockholm Syndrome, imagine a scenario where you were kidnapped - you would feel scared or anxious right? This is the conventional reaction to such a situation. On the contrary, some hostages begin to develop a sense of loyalty or connection with their captors. But why would anyone sympathize with a person harming them?
To answer this question, Criminologist Nils Bejerot coined the term Stockholm Syndrome. It is a sense of bonding towards one's captor, It's like a paradox for the mind. When a captor spares your life, gives you food, or speaks gently, the brain begins to blur the lines between threat and protection.
Research on this global psychological mystery began after the events that followed a bank robbery in Stockholm. It started with an escaped convict storming a bank and taking 4 employees hostage. He had heavy demands that the police refused to meet, leaving everyone trapped inside for six days. By the end of this dreadful period, the hostages strangely hugged the criminal and called the Prime Minister, begging for his safety.
Stockholm Syndrome isn't a sign of love or loyalty but is a survival mechanism. When a person is held captive, their brain shifts to self-preservation mode. Instead of resisting the captor, which is likely to endanger the victim, the brain subconsciously tries to appease them. It's like being on good terms with the biggest bully in school; in that case, they're less likely to target you.
One of the weirdest cases of Stockholm Syndrome is the kidnapping of Mary McElroy. In 1933, she was kidnapped and held for ransom in an abandoned farmhouse, chained to a wall. Despite the torture, she grew sympathetic toward her captors, even defending them in court, after her release. Her father was the only one who understood and helped her, but after his death, she was left shattered. After constant harassment from the media, she decided to take her life. She left a note saying “My four kidnappers are probably the four people on earth who don't consider me an utter fool. You have your death penalty now. So please, give them a chance.”
In some cases, people develop this syndrome when someone threatens to kill them but spares their life, the brain sees them as a protector instead of an enemy. Captors often switch between cruelty and kindness, making their victims emotionally dependent on them.
Growing up, most of you have probably seen Beauty and the Beast, a Disney classic where a young girl is held captive by a beast. Eventually, she sees past his monstrous form and grows fond of him, turning captivity into love. It's not just Disney. The famous Bollywood movie Highway shows a young woman (Alia Bhatt) being abducted right before marriage. As the initial days pass, she begins to develop a strange bond with her kidnapper.
Pop culture often romanticizes Stockholm Syndrome because it turns captivity into connection in a way that intrigues and unsettles the audience.
In a nutshell, the Stockholm Syndrome isn't a love story. It's a psychological trap because a bond formed in captivity, is a survival instinct, not love.
