the Stockholm syndrome

Vienna, Austria (AHN) - An Austrian teenager who was abducted eight years ago at the age of ten and kept in an underground cell called her kidnapper "part of my life" and said he was always kind to her. LINK

“We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint. Don’t get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it.” link

We docs see the Stockholm syndrome all the time in abused wives and children...and it is frustrating to us when we see the women return again and again to an abusive spouse, explaining to us that they "love" him...

From LINK

Every syndrome has symptoms or behaviors and Stockholm Syndrome is no exception. While a clear-cut list has not been established due to varying opinions by researchers and experts, several of these features will be present:

• Positive feelings by the victim toward the abuser/controller
• Negative feelings by the victim toward family, friends, or authorities trying to rescue/support them or win their release
• Support of the abuser's reasons and behaviors
• Positive feelings by the abuser toward the victim
• Supportive behaviors by the victim, at times helping the abuser
• Inability to engage in behaviors that may assist in their release or detachment

...It has been found that four situations or conditions are present that serve as a foundation for the development of Stockholm Syndrome. These four situations can be found in hostage, severe abuse, and abusive relationships:

• The presence of a perceived threat to one's physical or psychological survival and the belief that the abuser would carry out the threat
• The presence of a perceived small kindness from the abuser to the victim
• Isolation from perspectives other than those of the abuser
• The perceived inability to escape the situation

...In the final analysis, emotionally bonding with an abuser is actually a strategy for survival for victims of abuse and intimidation. The "Stockholm Syndrome" reaction in hostage and/or abuse situations is so well recognized at this time that police hostage negotiators no longer view it as unusual. In fact, it is often encouraged in crime situations as it improves the chances for survival of the hostages. On the down side, it also assures that the hostages experiencing "Stockholm Syndrome" will not be very cooperative during rescue or criminal prosecution. Local law enforcement personnel have long recognized this syndrome with battered women who fail to press charges, bail their battering husband/boyfriend out of jail, and even physically attack police officers when they arrive to rescue them from a violent assault....
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The problem with the press covering both the kidnapped teen and the kidnapped reproters is that some of the articles/reports take the victim's statements at face value, as if the statements were true, without noting that "reality" has been distorted in the victims by terror and psychological manipulation...
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Aug 30: Several psychiatrists discuss the stockholm syndrome HERE at SanitySquad