Stockholm syndrome

THE horrific story of teenager Natascha Kampusch, held prisoner in a suburban dungeon for nearly a decade, has put the spotlight once again on the bizarre condition of Stockholm syndrome.

Many people will be unable to comprehend why a little girl kept imprisoned in a pit beneath a garage for eight years would show him anything but hatred.

But the phenomenon of an emotional bond developing between victims and their captors was first noticed after a siege in the Swedish capital in 1973.

Brought on by the total dominance of the jailer, the syndrome has been known to result in an irrational convergence of views, and even love affairs.

The Stockholm syndrome term was coined by the criminologist and psychiatrist, Nils Bejerot.

Psychologists said that Natascha would spend many years struggling to come to terms with what happened to her. Not only would she have to adjust to a world totally alien to her, she would have to rebuild the relationship with her parents and come to terms with the fact her captor — who she was allegedly forced to call ‘Master’ — is dead.

According to Carey Cooper, professor of organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University, Natascha will have very mixed emotions towards her captor.

“I think she will be very confused about her feelings for her captor,” he said.