stockholm syndrome: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “stockholm syndrome” mean?
A psychological phenomenon where hostages or abuse victims develop positive feelings, loyalty, or sympathy toward their captors or abusers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A psychological phenomenon where hostages or abuse victims develop positive feelings, loyalty, or sympathy toward their captors or abusers.
More broadly, any situation where a person develops an irrational alliance with, or defense of, a person, group, or system that mistreats or oppresses them.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The spelling 'syndrome' is consistent.
Connotations
Identical clinical and metaphorical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in academic and media discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “stockholm syndrome” in a Sentence
[Person/Group] + develop/display/show + Stockholm syndrome[Situation] + is a classic case of + Stockholm syndrome[Victim] + suffering from + Stockholm syndromeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stockholm syndrome” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The hostages appeared to have Stockholm-syndromed, defending their captors' actions.
- Experts warned the victim might Stockholm syndrome if isolation continued.
American English
- The victim seemed to Stockholm syndrome, expressing concern for her abuser's wellbeing.
- Commentators said the employees had Stockholm-syndromed after years under the toxic CEO.
adjective
British English
- She displayed Stockholm-syndrome-like symptoms during the trial.
- The report described a Stockholm syndrome dynamic in the cult.
American English
- The psychologist identified a Stockholm-syndrome response in the interview.
- Their relationship had a Stockholm syndrome quality to it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used literally; sometimes used metaphorically to describe employees who defend exploitative company practices.
Academic
Common in psychology, criminology, and sociology papers discussing hostage situations, abusive relationships, or coercive control.
Everyday
Used in news reports about kidnappings or in discussions about toxic relationships.
Technical
A clinical term in psychology and psychiatry with specific diagnostic criteria related to traumatic bonding.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stockholm syndrome”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stockholm syndrome”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stockholm syndrome”
- Using it to describe any strong admiration or loyalty (it requires a context of captivity/abuse).
- Misspelling as 'Stockhold syndrome'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It originates from a 1973 bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, where hostages defended their captors after being released.
No, it is not listed as a distinct disorder in major diagnostic manuals like the DSM-5. It is considered a psychological response or a specific form of traumatic bonding.
Yes, the term is often applied metaphorically to other situations involving an imbalance of power and abuse, such as domestic violence, cults, or exploitative employment.
Sometimes called 'Lima syndrome', where captors develop positive feelings toward their hostages. However, this is not a formally recognised or common term.
A psychological phenomenon where hostages or abuse victims develop positive feelings, loyalty, or sympathy toward their captors or abusers.
Stockholm syndrome: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstɒk.həʊm ˈsɪn.drəʊm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstɑːk.hoʊm ˈsɪn.droʊm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A textbook case of Stockholm syndrome.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the city STOCKHOLM where the phenomenon was first identified after a bank robbery, and SYNDROME as a set of symptoms. Together: the 'Stockholm' pattern of symptoms.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A CAPTIVE (developing loyalty to its jailer).
Practice
Quiz
Stockholm syndrome is most accurately described as: