Societal Stockholm Syndrome

The term, Stockholm Syndrome, was coined in the early 70's to describe the puzzling reactions of four bank employees to their captor. On ugust !", #$7", three women and one man were taken hostage in one of the largest banks in Stockholm. They were held for si% days by two e%&con'icts who threatened their li'es but also showed them kindness. To the world's surprise, all of the hostages strongly resisted the go'ernment's efforts to rescue them and were (uite eager to defend their captors. )ndeed, se'eral months after the hostages were sa'ed by the police, they still had warm feelings for the men who threatened their li'es. Two of the women e'entually got engaged to the captors. The Stockholm incident compelled *ournalists and social scientists to research whether the emotional bonding between captors and capti'es was a +freak+ incident or a common occurrence in oppressi'e situations. They disco'ered that it's such a common phenomenon that it deser'es a name. Thus the label, Stockholm Syndrome, was born. )t has happened to concentration camp prisoners, cult members, ci'ilians in ,hinese ,ommunist prisons, pimp&procured prostitutes, incest 'ictims, physically and-or emotionally abused children, battered women, prisoners of war, 'ictims of hi*ackings, and of course, hostages. .irtually anyone can get Stockholm Syndrome it the following conditions are met/

0ercei'ed threat to sur'i'al and the belief that one's captor is willing to act on that threat The capti'e's perception of small kindnesses from the captor within a conte%t of terror )solation from perspecti'es other than those of the captor 0ercei'ed inability to escape.

Stockholm Syndrome is a sur'i'al mechanism. The men and women who get it are not lunatics. They are fighting for their li'es. They deser'e compassion, not ridicule. 0sychologist 1ee 2raham has theorized that Stockholm Syndrome occurs on a societal le'el. Since our culture is patriarchal, she belie'es that all women suffer from it&&to widely 'arying degrees, of course. She has e%panded on her theories in Loving to Survive: Sexual Terror, Men's Violence, and Women's Lives, which is well worth reading. 3hile 2raham's book can get (uite harsh, it does end on a hopeful note/ The most reliable way to deal with Socketal Stockholm Syndrome is to de'elop strong friendships and political alliances with feminist women.

2raham's theory is contro'ersial and it tends to put many women on the defensi'e. Still, ) think it's a much more con'incing e%planation of women's +self&destructi'e+ beha'ior than such theories as +masochism+ and +codependency+. ) also know from personal e%perience that 2raham is +right on+ with her 'iew that feminist acti'ism is the best way to deal with Societal Stockholm Syndrome. )n college, my feminist friends sa'ed me from some emotionally abusi'e romantic relationships. )n discussing why many women like 4ohn 2ray's books, ) think we should take 2raham's theory seriously. s ) read Loving to Survive, ) thought of all the women who lambasted Susan 5amson for criticizing 4ohn 2ray. )t reminded me of the Stockholm capti'es who resisted the police and protected their captors. ) also thought of Oprah 3infrey, who understandably wants a soul mate but gets ridiculed for that desire because she's +too successful and too independent+. The lack of social support undoubtedly has had an isolating effect, especially considering the groundless rumors a few years ago about her +lesbianism+. 3hile ) cringe at her support of 4ohn 2ray, ) must admit that he's ne'er ridiculed her for wanting a +great guy+. 2ray's anatomy plays 'ery well into Societal Stockholm Syndrome, as it manipulates women's fear of being alone but also shows +compassion+ for their problems. +1r+ 2ray did say, +6en are notorious for gi'ing less in relationships+ 7663., p. #$#8. 9ut he ne'er told them how to really gi'e more. 2raham's Societal Stockholm Syndrome Theory probably can't be +pro'en+, but neither can most other psychological theories. :onetheless, ) think 2raham's ideas are in'aluable resources for anyone who wants to build alternati'es to 6ars;.enus.
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