Stockholm Syndrome

By: Haasini Ravisankar

The Death of Fear

Fear, 20 days old, passed away on the 20th day of this unknown

month. Fear’s companion, Sadness, has taken residence for a while as

Confusion settles in too. Trickles of Longing now mix in with Confusion. The

Death of Fear occurred when Evil did not come but Kindness was in its place

instead. Confusion mixed with swirls of Longing, Sadness, Relief, Courage and

Hope now drifts about in the mind of the Captive.

There will be no services held because Fear, along with its

colleagues, Agitation, Angst, Anxiety, Despair, Dismay, Distress, Dread, Horror,

Panic, Revulsion, Terror, and Worry are not welcome anymore.

Stockholm SyndromeTo common society, the term Stockholm Syndrome is slapped onto any

kidnapping case, where the victim shows sympathy to their captor…but is this, medically speaking, molding Stockholm Syndrome into an actual psychological diagnosis or is it merely an urban myth, where humans feel supposedly impossible emotions and feelings in scary and dire situations? While it is called a “syndrome”, if a person were to look for Stockholm Syndrome in a medical book, they would be rather disappointed because technically speaking, Stockholm Syndrome is not an actual syndrome. To further prove that it isn’t in fact an actual syndrome, is that it isn’t even recognized as a Medical Subject Heading ( Namnyak 4).

These emotions are called Stockholm Syndrome mainly for the media to understand these, what are called, “abnormal” feelings. Today, Syndrome is defined as a combination of signs and/or symptoms that form a distinct clinical picture, indicative of a particular disorder. Sort of like a similar pattern of behavior. While most suggest that Stockholm Syndrome is a common phenomenon and that there is no real diagnosis, it is very true that past kidnapping cases have shown similar behaviors when victims are treated in a kind way, resulting in a positive bond.

There are many theories out there about Stockholm Syndrome, Some ridiculous and some seemingly accurate, the FBI being one of the accurate. They believe that a hostage’s will to live usually outweighs their impulse to hate (Wikipedia.org “Stockholm Syndrome”). But that is only true if the captor shows kindness. Hostages’ mentality is turned into thinking that if the captor isn’t taking lives or afflicting any type of abuse, then they are “giving life”, thus being “good” (Wikipedia.org “Stockholm Syndrome”). Even if

the captor is a psycho and afflicts abuse time to time or never, the more kindness they show, the more positive the bond will be. Some of the reasons such a bond occurs is because captives are completely shut out of the world, thus making the captive completely rely on their captor (Namnyak 12). Their basis survival needs and life then goes into the captor’s hands. Since the captor is the one in control, they get to roll the dice, controlling and picking what they let their captive see, do, feel, etc. While doing this though, even the perpetrator can feel positive emotions for their captive as they see them more as human beings (Fabrique 7). As this prolongs, the captive may not use their chances to escape and even fear authorities for their kidnapper (Fabrique 7). It is also shown that Stockholm Syndrome occurs to younger people, ages ten to thirty (Fabrique 6). With adults over thirty, there have been no signs of Stockholm Syndrome (Fabrique 6). But even with this finding, there is still little to no evidence that describes Stockholm Syndrome as a whole “psychiatric syndrome”.

If these symptoms are what we call Stockholm Syndrome, than could there be a wide range to what is “kind” way that the perpetrator could handle their victim? Take for example, Beauty and the Beast. It’s a classic Disney made love story that is cherished with children. With unanimous talking objects, Belle’s yellow dress, and the rose, who wouldn’t love this classic story? But could the Beast and Belle’s relationship be considered on the frays of a case of Stockholm Syndrome? It’s a seemingly innocent story, what with it made by Disney, but if you look at the Beast, you can see he’s just a tad bit crazy-angry. Think about it. Belle is kept in the Beast’s castle against her will and is completely helpless. She can really only rely on the Beast to provide for her survival needs. That is a key aspect in a bond between captor and captive. They understand

that they must rely on someone else entirely for their well being. The Beast also controls where she can go. Belle is not allowed out of the castle perimeters until she finds out her father is gravely ill. That is the only time the Beast lets her go. Obviously they are in love with each other and the Beast lets her go out of love, but he still did control her up to that point of the story. That is another key aspect for a perpetrator in a Stockholm Syndrome case. Throughout the story, Belle starts warming up to the Beast because he starts to show kindness and his true self instead of anger like he did at first. That is another key ingredient for a positive bond to occur. When the victim expects evil but is received good their outlook changes and they are going to want to stay on the captor’s good side. It must be understood that the Beast is no psycho though. Beauty and the Beast is actually a romantic, childish story but it still has a little of those aspects needed in Stockholm Syndrome. If only those psychos weren’t cruel and could be turned into handsome princes in the end. But sadly, this is a fairy tale and the real life cases are much worse, for the victims can go through anything from sexual to physical abuse, ruining their very lives and selves.

There is still the question of why such a powerful bond occurs, even though most go through neglect and/or sexual, physical, or emotional abuse. Could it be basic human survival instinct? Like the quote by Niccolo Machiavelli,

“Men, when they receive good from whence they expect evil, feel the more indebted to their benefactor.”Is this true? Could it be that even going through such abuse, the human mind will express some of the most delicate of human feeling to monstrous situations? But it’s true. When faced with this harsh reality, sometimes delving into the brainwashed feeling

of hope is all there is. There is the need that you can’t control what is happening to you but you can control your reaction even if it’s in the twisted way of being happy. Stockholm Syndrome is no psychological doing. There is no medical explanation. It is purely human. That is the answer. No matter how brainwashed or twisted, it is human. Even with these crazy explanations and results, in the end, there is one main culprit. Emotion. For we, criminal or victim, are only human

Stolen Book ReviewStolen is the heart wrenching debut novel by Australian/British author, Lucy

Christopher. Gemma steps away from her parents for a minute to get some coffee and clear her mind from her most recent argument with her mom at the airport in Bangkok, en route to Vietnam. In the cafe, she meets 20 something year old Ty whose penetrating blue eyes capture Gemma's attention and who even seems to be hitting on her. He smoothly pays for her coffee...and drugs it...

All she remembers is a haze ridden confusion of a journey and Ty's tall, rugged body by her side every inch of the way. She soon wakes up in the middle of the Australian outback...deserted...middle of nowhere...with only her captor for company. Ty. He doesn’t abuse her but instead does the opposite by telling her he doesn’t own her body and she can keep it to herself but Gemma is still set on escaping. She tries every escape route but soon finds...there aren't any. She is trapped in beautiful land with a beautiful person. But there is nothing pretty about it. All she wants to do is escape. She wants to escape before she let’s herself believe he isn’t as horrible as she thought he was. The last thing Gemma wants to do is believe he is of any good. But that is getting harder and harder as Gemma begins to soften her hard exterior and realize he isn’t as deceptive as she presumed. But does one forgive when they have been taken away from everything they’ve known? Ty has taken her away into an isolated yet wondrous place. Will he take Gemma’s heart away too?

This book was truly one of the most moving books I have ever read. I admit that I cried every bit of the way. My heart was wrenched back and forward, at times hating Ty and at times loving Ty just like Gemma. The author has written such a compelling story that the reader is feeling the same emotions and confusion Gemma feels. You are literally in the protagonist’s shoes feeling every confused feeling as does the character. And all these confused feelings are for the main man in this book, Ty, who really isn’t that bad. Even under his utter craziness, Ty is good, or at least trying to be. But his intentions were all bad so even if it’s hard to admit... love just isn’t a good enough reason to be a kidnapper. It made me so sad though to see Ty so screwed up. He truly is just looking for his place and where he belongs. But he finds that in dry desert of Australia. But he also feels that Gemma is a part of that...and so he steals her. Was it a good excuse to steal Gemma for his selfish reasons? No. But is he truly not that bad just thoroughly confused about his life. Yes.

Gemma's story is truly one of a kind and a kind that is heart- wrenching. I loved this book and I read it in one sitting! I was completely engrossed with this story and I was just captivated by it all.

And it leaves you wondering...as Gemma finds herself somewhat drawn to Ty...was it because she saw him for who he truly was? Or was it Stockholm Syndrome?This question keeps gnawing at me and really it's for the reader to decide what they think. There is no definite answer...

I loved this book and it definitely covered my 2011 goal of reading a truly moving book. Stolen is a beautiful story told through Gemma’s point of view through writing a letter to her captor, Ty. Everyone should read this absolutely amazing book.

To Ty, from the eyes of Gemma

there are no twists and turnsno this way or that way

alonejust you

you and your sun kissed armsthe scar on your cheekyour bright blue eyesthe slithering snakesthe orange brown dirt

the paint you adorn your body withyour home

meand

a land so beautiful and dryit envelops us in

a clarityof heat, sweat, and skin burned from the sun

 

but then it was all gone

gone like the dust that was raised from my thrashinggone

your and your sun kissed armsgone

the scar on your cheekgone

your bright blue eyesgone

the slithering snakesgone

the orange brown dirtgone

the paint you adorn your body withgone

your homegoneme

goneand

a land so beautiful and dryit envelops us in

a clarity of heat, sweat, and skin burned from the sun

gonestolen away

like you stole megone

you, with you sun kissed armsyou, wild like the dangerous snakes that slither and dance

on the orange brown dirtyou were gone

in a place where you weren’tfree

like the dangerous snakes that slither and dance on the orange brown dirt

sowhen I meet your blue eyes again

they will be tiredyour scarred cheek

sunken inyour face, etched with lines

yousun kissed arms, no more

bloodied and ruined

Inspired by the book Stolen by Lucy Christopher

The End