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.

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Stockholm syndrome British  

noun

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

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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

Stockholm syndrome inspired movies like the 2013 thriller “ Labor Day ” with Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin and Gattlin Griffith and the 2018 film “ Stockholm ” with Ethan Hawke and Noomi Rapace.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 24, 2023

And what made TV’s answer to Stockholm syndrome so compulsively watchable?

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2023