 You may have heard Stockholm syndrome mentioned when people talk about things like true crime or beauty in the beast But what is it really? Where did the term come from? Why does it happen? And how common is it? Well, you're in luck for some answers. We did the research so you don't have to the robbery that named the condition Stockholm syndrome is generally defined as the occurrence where hostages form emotional attachments to their captors and or begin to feel sympathy for them Criminologist and psychiatrist Nils Bejaro first coined the term Stockholm syndrome in 1973 that year four people were held hostage during a bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden Yet upon being released the hostages didn't show any anger towards their captor Instead they defended him and even refused to testify against him in court Since then Stockholm syndrome has been spotted in various situations not just hostages and kidnappings It has been recorded in victims of sexual abuse human trafficking discrimination terror and political and religious oppression as well The circumstances that created Psychologists believe that this reaction happens as a coping mechanism and can occur as a result of hopelessness and frustration A victim may feel the police aren't doing their job well enough which creates a resentment that the captor can relate to However, the victim doesn't automatically agree with their oppressor in almost all cases of Stockholm syndrome The captor has to spend face-to-face time with the victim for this to occur Gradually the victim may start to view them more as a person than a villain The dark results of Stockholm syndrome Once released victims of abduction or those situations listed above may develop the following symptoms Compassion for one's captor Refusal to admit their wrongdoing flashbacks of the event increased aggression Depression guilt and post-traumatic stress disorder They may also develop a dependency on their aggressor where they feel they cannot survive without them The good news is most people in hostage situations do not develop Stockholm syndrome The rarity of captor compassion The FBI's hostage barricade system says that 92% of people in these circumstances Do not present any symptoms that would indicate Stockholm syndrome However, it is still very real and should be taken seriously How serious can it get each person's reaction to a hostage situation is different However, there are a few famous examples where the attachment one had to their abductor went very far Natasha Kampush Natasha Kampush was abducted as a child in 1998 After her abuser's death, she kept a picture of him in her wallet and even bought the house. She was held in Patty Hearst After Patty Hearst the granddaughter of William Hearst was taken by a terrorist group in 1974 the media went into a flurry, but to everyone's surprise. She eventually joined the group that took her Mary McElroy Mary McElroy was kidnapped in 1933 after being rescued from her abductors. She claimed they were only businessmen She visited them in jail and eventually committed suicide leaving a note that said my four captors were probably the only people on earth Who don't consider me an utter fool you have your death penalty now, so please give them a chance We understand the significant effects abuse and confinement has on a person And want to provide emotional support to those who have been through a similar situation If you would like to learn more about Stockholm syndrome You can find additional information in the links below and in our article Stockholm syndrome traumatic bonding Let us know in the comments if you know other examples or healing tips for those recovering. Thanks for watching