Stockholm Syndrome

The human mind is thought to be one of the most amazing organs and yet, difficult to decipher; it holds the capability to perform the unimaginable. Mental disorders like Alzheimer's, narcissistic personality syndrome and double personality syndrome are all examples how the human mind can be altered, by disease or otherwise.

Stockholm syndrome is a psychological disorder, usually seen in people who may have gone through some form of trauma or distress such as kidnapping, rape etc. People suffering from this disorder experience a feeling of empathy, attachment and 'slavery' towards the captor, even years after the traumatic experience.

Also sometimes known as the Helsinki syndrome, this disorder can prove to be extremely dangerous, given that the victim is at the risk of being seriously injured or maimed at the hands of the captor, to whom he/she submits to willingly.

When a person goes through a traumatic phase, whether emotional, physical or both, he / she desperately looks for a way to escape the ordeal. In such traumatic conditions such as kidnapping, when the victim is seriously stressed, a mere absence of violence or a slight gesture of care and comfort can cause the mind to sink into submission, and makes the victim develop attachment and empathy towards the source. This is thought to be the reason behind the condition.

There is an interesting story behind the origin of the name given to this syndrome. Several bank employees were held hostage between the 23^rd to 28^th August 1973 in Stockholm, Sweden. It was later observed that these employees developed a feeling of attachment for their captors and even rejected assistance from some government officials.

Source-Medindia