Complex Numbers

Stockholm Syndrome

An entry for "Journalistic Intentions"  [18+] today:

Stockholm

It's impossible for me to see the name of this city without thinking "Stockholm Syndrome."

I imagine that name for hostages developing sympathy for their captors stuck because of the neat alliteration, rhyme and rhythm of the phrase. It really has nothing to do with Sweden's capital, except for it being the place where the "syndrome" was identified. Probably, we should find another name for it like we've started to do with actual diseases, no longer naming them after places.

And I say "actual diseases" not because mental illness isn't real, but because Stockholm Syndrome isn't officially recognized   as such.

Even if it were, from the time I first heard of it, I was skeptical.

It's easy to look at a situation from the outside and make value judgements. Captors=evil, hostages=good. It's probably the oldest dichotomy in history: the contrast between good and evil.

What I don't think people take into account is that usually, the hostages are ordinary people, and ordinary people have some level of empathy and compassion. Those qualities are generally attributed to the "good" side of good vs. evil.

And even the hostage-takers might have some signs of humanity. Otherwise, why would they care enough about a cause to go to extremes to achieve it?

It's been noted by better thinkers than me that, once people actually get to know each other, some level of understanding gets reached. Given all that, it doesn't surprise me in the least that in some situations, captives can start feeling empathy for their captors (hell, sometimes it's even the other way around).

Point is, people are complicated, and if you've never been in that sort of situation, it can look like an aberration from the outside. But with a little bit of empathy, one can maybe see how it's perfectly natural.