Stockholm syndrome

American  

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an emotional attachment to a captor formed by a hostage as a result of continuous stress, dependence, and a need to cooperate for survival.

---

Stockholm syndrome British  

noun

1. a psychological condition in which hostages or kidnap victims become sympathetic towards their captors

---

Etymology

Origin of Stockholm syndrome

After an incident in Stockholm in 1973, during which a bank employee became romantically attached to a robber who held her hostage

Example Sentences

One of the two charismatic criminals involved in the kidnapping that gave the world the term "Stockholm syndrome" has died aged 78, his family has said.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2025

I’d succumbed to Stockholm syndrome, a captive identifying with the many whistleblowers I’ve come to know in a career writing about air disasters.

From Slate • May 3, 2024

I was feeling a little mutual Stockholm syndrome.

From Salon • Dec. 5, 2023

More than once, she struck me as less an Internet explorer than a digital prisoner, making “Extremely Online” a kind of Stockholm syndrome manifesto.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2023

Here’s a look at Stockholm syndrome and how it got its name.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 24, 2023