People who have this syndrome seem to have some other common symptoms, though:
Stockholm syndrome isn’t listed as a formal mental health diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM– 5). They might develop an emotional bond as a way to survive. People who are trafficked and forced into sex trade work become dependent on captors for basic needs. Sexual, physical, or emotional domestic abuse can lead to confusing emotional bonds between the victim and the abuser.
This might lead to having Stockholm syndrome.Ībuse. If they start to rationalize the coach’s behavior, they might defend or sympathize with them. Children or youth who have abusive athletic coaches might develop Stockholm syndrome. An emotional bond can grow between the child and the abuser that often protects the abuser for a long time. Abusers often threaten and physically harm their victims, but they might also show kindness that can be interpreted as love or affection. Abuse can be very confusing for children. It can happen in different settings.Ĭhild abuse. There isn’t very much research on Stockholm syndrome, but it seems that it’s not just people who are held hostage who experience it. They might have sympathy toward them for this kindness.
If the abuser is kind in any way, they might cling to this as a coping mechanism for survival. mock executions)Ī person might be abused and severely threatened by a captor or an abuser, but they also rely on them to survive.
Stockholm syndrome might also cause the hostage to have negative feelings toward the police or anyone who might try to attempt a rescue. Someone who has Stockholm syndrome might have confusing feelings toward the abuser, including: This can lead to kind treatment and less harm from the abuser as they might also create a positive bond with their victims. This seems to happen over days, weeks, months, or years of captivity and close contact to the captor.Ī bond can grow between the victim and the captor. Sometimes people who are held prisoner or are subject to abuse can have feelings of sympathy or other positive feelings toward the captor. Instead, it is a way of understanding the emotional response some people have towards a captor or abuser. Stockholm syndrome isn’t a psychological diagnosis. It happens to some abuse and hostage victims when they have positive feelings toward an abuser or captor. Stockholm syndrome is an emotional response.