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Psychological Phenomena

Stockholm Syndrome

Clinical and Motivational Phenomena

Stockholm syndrome is a disputed phenomenon in pop psychology characterized by the tendency of hostages to develop a psychological bond with their captors, named after an attempted bank robbery in Stockholm in 1973 that gave the syndrome its name. Despite its prominence in popular culture, it has never been included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and psychologists generally consider the evidence for it to be dubious or nonexistent; many of the famous examples cited to illustrate the syndrome, including details of the 1973 robbery itself, are partly or entirely fabricated.

Facts
Core ClaimSourced to the subject's own account
Stockholm syndrome describes hostages developing a psychological bond with their captors; the construct is disputed, is not included in the DSM, and psychologists generally regard the evidence for it as dubious or nonexistent. 1
First Described YearSourced to the subject's own account
1973 1
Classification
Type of PhenomenonSourced to the subject's own account
Emotional Phenomenon 1
Type of PhenomenonSourced to the subject's own account
Social or Interpersonal Phenomenon 1
Connections

In Branch

Sources
1. Stockholm Syndrome (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • Lead section, paragraph 2
    Despite its prominence in popular culture, Stockholm syndrome has never been included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the authoritative guide for diagnosis of psychiatric conditions used in the United States, and psychologists generally consider evidence for the condition to be dubious or nonexistent.
  • Lead section, paragraph 1
    It is named after an attempted bank robbery in 1973, in Stockholm.
  • lead section, phenomenon-kind classification
    Stockholm syndrome is a disputed disorder in pop psychology characterized by the tendency of hostages to develop a psychological bond with their captors.
  • lead section, phenomenon-kind classification (additional value)
    Stockholm syndrome is a disputed disorder in pop psychology characterized by the tendency of hostages to develop a psychological bond with their captors.
  • lead section, phenomenon-kind classification, additional value emotional
    Stockholm syndrome is a disputed disorder in pop psychology characterized by the tendency of hostages to develop a psychological bond with their captors.
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