Stockholm syndrome where the name comes from. What is Stockholm syndrome? Concept and causes of Stockholm syndrome

An acute psychological situation in which the victim develops sympathy for his tormentors is called Stockholm syndrome. This happens during a hostage situation. If the criminals are caught, then the victim of this syndrome can actively participate in the future fate of their tormentors. Such people ask for a reduced sentence for them, visit them in prison, etc. Stockholm syndrome is not officially a neurological disease, because in hostage situations only 8% succumb to its influence. The symptoms and treatment of this disease will be described below.

First mention

In 1973, three women and one man were kidnapped by two kidnappers at a bank in Stockholm. For 6 days they threatened to take their lives, but sometimes gave them concessions and a little peace. However, when trying to free the hostages, the rescue operation encountered an unexpected problem: all the victims tried to prevent themselves from being freed and after the incident asked for amnesty for the criminals.

Each victim visited her tormentors in prison, and one of the women divorced her husband and swore love and fidelity to the guy who put a gun to her head. Two former hostages even married their captors. This psychological reaction was first described by criminologist Biggert.

The most common form of hostage sympathy is considered to be everyday Stockholm syndrome. This is banal psychological and physical violence in the family. A person does not feel like a victim, and such relationships are not uncommon between husband and wife, parents and children.

Stockholm syndrome in the family

Stockholm syndrome in the family also harms those close to them, because they know about the violence, but cannot do anything because the victim does not consider himself a victim.

Children who grow up in such a family also become victims. Since childhood, they see negative subconscious influences even with a positive attitude. What happens greatly affects their perception of the world. Depression often accompanies such people into adulthood.

Causes

Psychologists have proven that prolonged emotional shock can significantly affect the subconscious of victims and change their attitude towards aggressors. When a person is completely dependent on an aggressive offender, he interprets all his actions in his favor - this is the mechanism of the syndrome. But this only works with psychological emotional violence, provided that physical violence is not applied to the victim. There are cases where the victim and the offender were together for months. In such cases, the first one understood that the kidnapper would not cause physical harm, and began to provoke them. The consequences of such rash behavior can be completely different and very dangerous.

Violence in family

Stockholm hostage syndrome has the following causes:

• loyal attitude towards victims;
• threat to life manifested by a maniac;
• long stay of hostage and kidnapper;
• Only one version of the event is possible, which is dictated by the invaders.

Manifestations of the syndrome

In order to determine the presence of the syndrome, you need to take a closer look at the person. All people who have been or are in similar situations have certain signs.

1. During a long conversation with the kidnapper, the victim distorts the real perspective of what is happening in his subconscious. Often she considers the kidnapper's motives to be correct, fair and the only true ones.
2. When a person is under stress and fear for his life for a long time, all attempts and actions to improve the situation are perceived negatively. In this case, the hostage is afraid of being released, because the risk only increases when attempting to release. In such family relationships, the victim is afraid of angering the tyrant even more if he starts to fight him, so he leaves everything unchanged.
3. When a person who is being abused chooses to behave in a submissive and accommodating manner, over time they develop into empathy, approval and understanding. In such cases, the hostage acquits one of the attackers, and the victim acquits the domestic tyrant.

Survival tactics with a torturer

With prolonged contact in a relationship with a tyrant, the victim develops rules of behavior.

Survival tactics

1. The desire to maintain peace in the family forces the victim to forget about his desires and live the life of the offender. She sets herself the task of completely satisfying all the desires of the tyrant.
2. The sufferer can convince himself of the good intentions of the domestic abuser and awaken feelings of respect, love and encouragement.
3. When the aggressor man is in a good mood and the wife creates illusions about restoring peace in the family, fearing to violate such good behavior towards her.
4. Complete secrecy of your relationships and suppression of any attempts by loved ones to help. This occurs due to fear and non-acceptance of such an attitude towards the victim.
5. Such people try to avoid talking about their personal lives or insist that everything is fine.

The hostage's feeling of guilt makes him think that the reasons for such behavior of the aggressor are in himself.

Getting rid of the problem

Stockholm syndrome, which manifests itself in the family, is a purely psychological reaction. Her treatment must be carried out with the help of a psychologist. The psychotherapist helps the patient solve 3 problems:

• lack of logic in actions;
• the concept of the illusion of all hopes;
• accepting victim status.

A domestic case is the most difficult; the thoughts and fear imposed by the aggressor can last for years. It is difficult to convince such a person to leave the tyrant - because this is the only way out of the current situation.

Treatment can last from several months to several years, it all depends on the person who has been abused.

Historical examples

Examples from life prove the existence of this disease in many people. In addition to the first mention in Stockholm, a striking manifestation is considered to be the case in Peru, when the Japanese embassy was seized by terrorists. At that moment, 500 guests of the residence and the ambassador himself were captured. Two weeks later, 220 hostages were released, who during the liberation defended their captors and acted on their side.

Later it turned out that some of the hostages were released due to sympathy for them. Accordingly, terrorists also developed a syndrome. This phenomenon was called the Lima capture.

An interesting case of everyday manifestation of the syndrome can be considered the incident with Elizabeth Smart. The girl was 14 years old, she was kept locked up and raped. However, she refused to run away from her tormentors when given the opportunity.

- this is a specific psychological state that characterizes paradoxical mutual or one-sided sympathy between the victim and the aggressor. Occurs in situations of hostage taking, kidnapping, threats, and use of violence. It is shown by sympathy for criminals, attempts to rationally explain and justify their actions, identification of oneself with them, assistance to aggressors during police intervention, and the issuance of official charges. Diagnosis is carried out by psychologists and psychiatrists using observation, clinical conversation, and questioning of witnesses. Correction is performed after the end of the conflict using psychotherapy methods.

ICD-10

F43.8 Other reactions to severe stress

General information

The term “Stockholm syndrome” was introduced by criminologist N. Beyeroth in 1973 while studying the situation of taking hostage employees of a Swiss bank in the city of Stockholm. The very phenomenon of paradoxical behavior of the victim was described in 1936 by A. Freud and was called “identification with the aggressor.” There are many synonyms for the syndrome - hostage identification syndrome, Stockholm factor, common sense syndrome. The prevalence among terrorist victims is 8%. This behavioral phenomenon is not included in the official classifications of diseases; it is considered a normal adaptive reaction of the psyche to a traumatic event.

Causes

The condition for the development of the syndrome is a situation of interaction with aggressors - a group of people or one person who restricts freedom and is capable of committing violence. The paradoxical behavior of the victim unfolds during political and criminal terrorist attacks, military operations, imprisonment, kidnapping, and the development of dictatorship within families, professional groups, religious sects, and political groups. A number of factors contribute to the humanization of the relationship between the invader and the victim:

• Demonstration of violence. People subjected to physical violence, observing it from the side, tend to show a humane attitude. Fear of death and injury becomes a source of motivation for behavior.
• Language, cultural barrier. This factor may prevent the development of the syndrome or increase the likelihood of its occurrence. The positive impact is explained by the fact that another language, culture, and religion are interpreted as conditions that justify the cruelty of the aggressors.
• Knowledge of survival techniques. Psychological literacy of both participants in the situation enhances the humanization of relationships. Mechanisms of psychological influence that promote survival are actively involved.
• Personal qualities. The syndrome is more often observed in people with a high level of communication skills and the ability to empathize. Diplomatic communication can change the actions of the aggressor, reducing the risks to the lives of the victims.
• Duration of the traumatic situation. The syndrome occurs within several days after the criminal begins his active actions. Long-term communication allows you to better know the aggressor, understand the reasons for violence, and justify actions.

Pathogenesis

Stockholm syndrome is a psychological defense mechanism that is formed unconsciously, but can be gradually realized by the victim. It unfolds on two levels: behavioral and mental. At the level of behavior, the victim demonstrates acceptance, obedience, fulfillment of demands, and assistance to the aggressor, which increases the likelihood of a positive reaction - a reduction in violent actions, a refusal to kill, and agreement to negotiate. For the victim, the likelihood of surviving and maintaining health increases. At the mental level, the syndrome is realized through identification, justification of the actions of the “terrorist,” and forgiveness. Such mechanisms make it possible to maintain the integrity of the Self as a personality system, including self-respect, self-love, and willpower. Psychological protection prevents the development of mental disorders after a traumatic situation - people cope with stress more easily, return to their normal lifestyle faster, and do not suffer from PTSD.

Symptoms

Identification of the victim with the personality of the aggressor occurs in different types of relationships: during armed seizures, kidnappings, family and professional conflicts. The key feature is the distribution of roles. The “victim”, lacking the means for active self-defense, takes a passive position. The behavior of the “aggressor” pursues a specific goal, often implemented according to a plan or habitual scenario, in which the oppression of the victim is a condition for achieving the result. The desire to humanize relationships is manifested by attempts to establish productive contact. A person taking the position of a victim provides the necessary medical and household assistance to the aggressor and initiates a conversation. The topic of discussion is often aspects of personal life - family, type of activity, reasons that prompted violence, the commission of a crime.

In some cases, victims defend their aggressors from the police and charges during court proceedings. If Stockholm syndrome develops at the everyday level between family members, victims often deny the fact of violence and tyranny and withdraw their own official statements (accusations). There are examples when hostages hid a criminal from the police, covered him with their own body when threatened with the use of weapons, and spoke at court hearings on the side of the defense. After the critical situation is resolved, the aggressor and the victim can become friends.

Complications

Stockholm syndrome is a form of adaptive behavior in a threat situation. It is aimed at protecting victims from the actions of aggressors, but at the same time it can become an obstacle to the actions of real defenders - police officers, a special unit group, and the prosecutor in court proceedings. Particularly adverse consequences are observed in “chronic” situations, such as domestic violence. Having escaped punishment, the aggressor repeats his actions with greater cruelty.

Diagnostics

Specific diagnostic methods for identifying the syndrome have not been developed. Examinations are performed after the traumatic situation has ended. Signs of a benevolent attitude of the victim towards the invaders are determined during the conversation and observation of behavior during court hearings. Usually people openly talk about the events that happened and strive to justify the criminals in the eyes of a psychiatrist or psychologist. They downplay the significance and reality of the past threat, and tend to discount risks (“he wouldn’t shoot,” “he hit because he was provoked”). To make the study more objective, a survey of other victims or observers is carried out. Their stories are compared with patient survey data.

Treatment of Stockholm syndrome

In a dangerous situation (terrorist takeover, oppressive behavior of a boss, spouse), Stockholm syndrome is encouraged by support service specialists. The issue of therapy becomes relevant after the conflict, when the victim is safe. Often no special help is required; after a few days, the symptoms of the syndrome disappear on their own. For “chronic” forms (everyday Stockholm syndrome), psychotherapy is necessary. The following types are widely used:

• Cognitive. In mild forms of the syndrome, methods of persuasion and semantic processing of attitudes are used. The psychotherapist talks about the mechanisms underlying adaptive behavior and the inappropriateness of such an attitude in normal life.
• Cognitive-behavioural. Persuasion techniques and changing ideas about the aggressor are combined with the development and implementation of behavioral patterns that allow one to escape the role of the victim. Options for responding to threats and ways to prevent conflicts are discussed.
• Psychodrama. This method helps restore the patient’s critical attitude towards his own behavior and the behavior of the aggressor. The psychotraumatic situation is played out and discussed by the group members.

Prognosis and prevention

Cases of Stockholm syndrome that occurred as a result of terrorist attacks and kidnappings have a favorable prognosis; rehabilitation is productive with minimal psychotherapeutic assistance. Household and corporate options are less amenable to correction, since the victims themselves tend to deny the existence of a problem and avoid the intervention of psychologists. Methods for preventing this condition are not relevant; adaptive behavior is aimed at preserving the physical and mental health of victims susceptible to aggression. To prevent the development of adverse consequences, it is necessary to provide victims with psychological assistance.

Stockholm syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which the victim begins to feel sympathy and even regret for his aggressor, tyrant, rapist. Until recently, this syndrome was considered only in the context of the emergence of positive emotions among hostages towards their captors. But today this term is also applicable to everyday situations, relationships between men and women. Most often, the woman takes the role of the victim in a relationship, although not in 100% of cases.

Occurs in 8 cases out of 100. Stockholm syndrome is based on the principle of dependent relationships. The essence of the syndrome is that the victim begins to feel sympathy, feels emotional and psychological dependence, and defends his tyrant in the eyes of other people.

There are known cases when hostages escaped with their tyrants or shielded them from bullets and helped them avoid punishment. With everyday Stockholm syndrome, the victim shelters the tyrant, looks for the cause in himself, and finds excuses for the aggressor.

Simply put, it is a change from hatred and fear to compassion, understanding, sympathy and love. The modern understanding of the Stockholm syndrome phenomenon is much broader and more complex:

• Today, information about this syndrome is so accessible that terrorists and other criminals use the features of the syndrome for their own purposes. Therefore, it has become more difficult for psychologists, police and other services to work. It is important to determine not only the true motives of the criminal, but also the true motives of the victim.
• The phenomenon of Stockholm syndrome can also be seen in business relationships. When employees understand that they live under constant overload and inadequate demands from their superiors, but over time they begin to take it for granted. After all, sometimes employees receive bonuses. The employee’s self-esteem decreases, and if the desire to resist arises, it is immediately cut off. There is no talk of dismissal. And the fear of being fired or disappointing your superiors becomes the leading one.
• The term is used not only in relation to family relationships or classically in the relationship between captor and hostage, but also in relation to child-parent relationships. Moreover, the role of a tyrant (ruler) can belong to both parents and children.
• Another modern use of the term is the relationship between the buyer and goods, or shopaholism. The buyer by hook or by crook (useful later, promotion, discount, bonus) justifies his purchases. And although the shopaholic himself knows that these promotions are not the last, in the depths of his soul he thinks “what if this particular product is the last.”

History of the discovery of Stockholm syndrome

On August 23, 1973, in the central square of Stockholm, armed criminals (32-year-old Jan-Erik Olsson and 26-year-old Clark Olofsson) seized a bank and 4 hostages (31-year-old Brigitte Lundberg, 26-year-old Christina Enmark, 21-year-old Elisabeth Oldgren, 26 -year-old Sven Sefström). Outwardly, all victims are prosperous, beautiful, successful and self-confident.

During captivity, while the robbers asked for ransom, the victims endured 2 days of complete hunger strike, threats of murder, and torture (standing with a noose around their neck; at the slightest change in position, it would tighten and strangle). But soon a rapprochement between the criminals and the hostages began to be noted. To the point that one of the victims was able to pass on information to the police, but then she herself admitted it to the robbers. And on the fourth day, she asked the police to give her and the criminals the opportunity to leave.

Sven, after his release, maintained that the robbers were good people. On the sixth day during liberation, the hostages defended the robbers and held hands with them. Later, two hostages admitted that they voluntarily copulated with the robbers, and a little later they began to visit them in prison and eventually became engaged to them.

Reasons for the development of the syndrome

In 80% of cases, the formation of the syndrome is caused by a certain type of thinking. Most victims are psychologically programmed to follow this role.

The main features of the victim’s thinking include the following:

• Seeing the world in pessimistic terms, feeling like a magnet for trouble.
• The feeling that the victim does not deserve more.
• There is an attitude of humility and patience. This is especially true for women if they were instilled in childhood with the need to obey a man. In families where the father was a tyrant or simply a leading rude person, and the mother was silent and weak.

Victims often come out of overly demanding situations, where the child tried to earn the love of his parents. In addition, the child received even more criticism for noticed attempts to please. Or in families where the child felt unwanted and was deprived of attention.

More often, the syndrome develops in people with a mobile and unstable psyche ().

Defense mechanism of the psyche

The second reason for the formation of Stockholm syndrome is the activation of a defense mechanism in a woman who has been subjected to gender-based violence. The point is that the tyrant's outbursts of aggression will be less frequent and smaller or directed at another object if the victim does not show contradictions. Gender-based violence is characterized by two stages: humiliation and repentance. Due to emotional weakness, the victim cannot stand it and forgives his aggressor.

The influence of the protective mechanism was also considered in the first case in an area in Stockholm. British psychologist Anna Freud then called it identification with the aggressor. This is an irrational reaction that turns on under conditions of survival, ineffectiveness and hopelessness of rational reactions.

The victim unconsciously identifies himself with the aggressor and hopes that he will not harm another person like him. In order for such identification to become possible, perception rearranges its work. As a result of perestroika, the aggressor is perceived as a sympathetic person, and not as a tyrant. Otherwise, it would be impossible to identify oneself with the criminal. The forced long-term presence in one space and communication also contribute.

The influence of stereotypes

The third option for the development of Stockholm syndrome is the influence of stereotypes. Relevant for household syndrome. The main effect is the idea that a single woman cannot be happy and successful. Or that a woman should live her whole life with one man (especially if the man is the first in terms of sex). Women raised by stereotypes can endure physical and mental violence for years and “carry their cross.”

It is worth noting that two or all of the described factors can affect the development of the syndrome. This happens quite often. And this is not surprising, since in the end the problem of the syndrome stems from childhood. And the family is responsible for development, and for, and for the formation of beliefs and culture.

Favorable conditions for the development of the syndrome

Stockholm syndrome does not always develop, but only under certain conditions:

• long forced stay of the victim and the aggressor in the same space;
• humane and loyal attitude of the aggressor to the victim;
• a real threat to the life of the victim that the aggressor demonstrates;
• the victim’s awareness of the absence of an alternative, the reality of only one outcome dictated by the aggressor.

The syndrome itself under such conditions is formed in 4 stages:

1. Establishing close relationships due to forced joint isolation.
2. The victim's willingness to do whatever the aggressor says in order to save his life.
3. Rapprochement through communication, penetration into the inner world of the aggressor, understanding his motives for behavior.
4. Development of emotional dependence on the aggressor due to his loyal attitude and forced communication, a feeling of gratitude for the life saved, a desire to help.

How to get rid of the syndrome

The victim himself interferes with his own release. No one can help her until she herself realizes the inadequacy of her own behavior.

It is almost impossible to cope with such a problem as Stockholm syndrome on your own. It is recommended to consult a psychologist. It will help you look deep into your soul and understand the true reasons for sacrifice. Most often, the victim is characterized in life as a “whipping girl/boy.” But where such a life position was formed is a more complex and private question.

Correcting everyday Stockholm syndrome is more difficult than others. After all, the only solution is to realize the irrationality of the victim’s behavior, see the unreality of one’s own hopes and illusions, and leave the aggressor. The victim will believe until the last moment that the situation (read: the aggressor) can be changed.

Buying syndrome is the easiest way to correct it. Just look at how many of the purchased items were never used during the month. Or calculate what the buyer deprived himself of, what he sacrificed.

Business relationship syndrome does not necessarily require a job change. After all, the victim will again find the same tyrant boss. It is necessary to increase the victim’s self-esteem, set life priorities (work should not take up all the time), find and appreciate your individuality (beliefs, interests, etc.).

Working with any type of Stockholm syndrome involves working with a person, his self-concept, and increasing self-esteem.

This phenomenon is called "Stockholm syndrome", or "hostage syndrome", in 1973, when two criminals held four employees hostage for 6 days during an armed bank robbery in Stockholm. And after the release, the victims suddenly took the side of their captors, one of the girls even got engaged to the raider. This was not the only case where victims developed sympathy for their abusers. The most famous and shocking cases are further in the review.

In 1974, political terrorists of the Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapped the billionaire's granddaughter, 19-year-old Patty Hearst. For 57 days the girl was in a closet measuring 2 meters by 63 centimeters. She spent the first few days gagged, blindfolded and subjected to physical and sexual violence. The conspirators planned to exchange her for two prisoners of their group, but this plan failed, and Patty remained with them. The girl not only did not strive to free herself, but also became a member of the group, taking part in raids and bank robberies. She was in love with one of the terrorists.

A day before her release on bail, Patty Hearst announced that she was joining the ranks of the Symbionese Liberation Army: “Either continue to remain a prisoner, or use the power of S.A.O. and fight for peace. I decided to fight... I decided to stay with new friends.” In 1975, the girl was arrested along with other members of the group. At the trial, Hearst spoke about the coercive nature of her activities, but a guilty verdict was still handed down.

In 1998, 10-year-old Natasha Kampusch was kidnapped in Vienna. For 8 years she was kept locked up by the maniac Wolfgang Priklopil. All this time the girl was in a soundproof basement. She was able to return home only in 2006. But the girl spoke with sympathy about her kidnapper, claiming that he spoiled her more than her parents. As it turned out, as a child she had no friends, her parents divorced, and she felt lonely.

When Natasha was kidnapped by a maniac, she remembered a TV show in which they said that if they resist, kidnapping victims are often killed, and she behaved submissively. After her release, Priklopil committed suicide. Having learned about this, Natasha burst into tears.

In 2002, a maniac from Salt Lake City kidnapped 15-year-old Elizabeth Smart. The girl spent 9 months in prison. There was a version that she could have escaped earlier if not for the feeling of attachment to the kidnapper.

Psychiatrists and criminologists have studied this phenomenon for decades and came to these conclusions. In a stressful situation, a special connection sometimes arises between the victim and the aggressor, which leads to sympathy. At first, hostages demonstrate a willingness to obey the aggressor in order to avoid violence and save their lives, but later, under the influence of shock, they begin to sympathize with the criminals, justify their actions and even identify themselves with them.

This does not always happen. The cruel treatment of hostages naturally awakens hatred in them, but in the case of humane behavior the victim begins to feel gratitude. In addition, in conditions of isolation from the outside world, hostages can learn the point of view of the aggressors and understand the motives for their behavior. Often the reasons that prompted them to commit a crime evoke sympathy among the victims and a desire to help them. Under the influence of stress, a physical or emotional attachment to the invaders develops. The hostages feel grateful that they were left alive. As a result, victims often resist during a rescue operation.

Adults are not always criminals.

Based on materials from the book by L.G. Scrub
“Social psychology of the crowd” (St. Petersburg, 2004).

Stockholm syndrome- a psychological state that occurs during hostage taking, when the hostages begin to sympathize with the takers or even identify themselves with them.

The authorship of the term “Stockholm syndrome” is attributed to criminologist Nils Bejerot, who coined it while analyzing the situation that arose in Stockholm during the hostage crisis in August 1973.

With a long interaction between hostages and terrorists, a reorientation occurs in the behavior and psyche of the hostages. The so-called "Stockholm Syndrome". It was first discovered in the capital of Sweden. The situation developed as follows. Two repeat criminals in a financial bank took four hostages - a man and three women. For six days, the bandits threatened their lives, but from time to time they gave some concessions. As a result, the victims of the capture began to resist government attempts to free them and defend their captors. Subsequently, during the trial of the bandits, the freed hostages acted as defenders of the bandits, and two women became engaged to their former captors. Such a strange attachment of victims to terrorists arises under the condition that the hostages are not physically harmed, but moral pressure is put on them. For example, during the seizure of a hospital in Budennovsk by Basayev’s detachment, the hostages, who had lain on the floor of the hospital for several days, asked the authorities not to launch an assault, but to comply with the terrorists’ demands.

“Stockholm syndrome” is intensified if a group of hostages is divided into separate subgroups that are unable to communicate with each other.

The peculiar situation that provokes the “Stockholm Syndrome” has been described many times in literature and reflected in feature films. For the first time, the psychological attachment of a hostage to his guard is presented in the film based on Lavrenev’s story “The Forty-First.” Then, the French film “The Runaways,” starring famous actors Gerard Depardieu and Pierre Richard, shows the emergence of a tender friendship between a failed terrorist (Richard’s hero) and a former bandit who became his hostage (Depardieu’s hero). In the famous American film “Die Hard” with the participation of Bruce Willis, the situation of the consequences of “Stockholm Syndrome” is played out more dramatically. One of the hostages showed solidarity with the terrorists, betrayed his comrades, and betrayed the wife of a police officer (Willis’s character). He was then shot in cold blood by terrorists. This example shows us how risky it is for hostages to communicate with terrorists.

The psychological mechanism of Stockholm syndrome is that in conditions of complete physical dependence on an aggressive terrorist, a person begins to interpret any of his actions in his favor. There are cases where the victim and the invaders stayed together for months, waiting for the terrorist’s demands to be fulfilled. If no harm is caused to the victim, then in the process of adapting to this situation, some people, sensing the potential inability of the invaders to harm them, begin to provoke them. However, any statements about the weakness of terrorists, threats of revenge, imminent exposure and criminal prosecution can be very dangerous and lead to irreparable consequences.

The “Stockholm Syndrome” manifested itself most clearly during the terrorist takeover of the Japanese Embassy in Peru. On December 17, 1998, a magnificent reception was held at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador in Lima, the capital of Peru, to celebrate the birthday of Emperor Akohito of Japan. The terrorists, who appeared in the form of waiters with trays in their hands, seized the ambassador's residence along with 500 guests. The terrorists were members of the Peruvian extremist group “Tupac Amara Revolutionary Movement”. This was the largest seizure in history of such a large number of high-ranking hostages from different countries of the world, whose immunity is established by international acts. The terrorists demanded that the authorities release about 500 of their supporters in prison.

Immediately after the capture, Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori began to be accused of not providing reliable security for the embassy. Leaders of Western countries whose citizens were among the hostages put pressure on him and demanded that the safety of the hostages be a priority in their release. But there was no talk of any storming of the embassy or any other forceful measures to free the hostages. A day after seizing the residence, the terrorists released 10 prisoners - the ambassadors of Germany, Canada, Greece, and the cultural adviser of the French Embassy. The terrorists agreed with the diplomats that they would become mediators in negotiations between them and President A. Fujimori. The president could either join in negotiations with the terrorists, which they insisted on, or try to free the hostages by force. But the storming of the embassy did not guarantee the survival of the hostages.

After two weeks, the terrorists released 220 hostages, reducing the number of their captives to make them easier to control. The released hostages puzzled the Peruvian authorities with their behavior. They made unexpected statements about the rightness and justice of the terrorists' struggle. Having been in captivity for a long time, they began to feel both sympathy for their captors and hatred and fear towards those who would try to free them by force.

According to Peruvian authorities, terrorist leader Nestor Cartolini, a former textile worker, was an exceptionally cruel and cold-blooded fanatic. A whole series of kidnappings of large Peruvian businessmen was associated with the name of Cartolini, from whom the revolutionary demanded money and other valuables under threat of death. However, he made a completely different impression on the hostages. Major Canadian businessman Kieran Matkelf said after his release that Nestor Cartolini was a polite and educated man dedicated to his business.

The hostage taking lasted four months. The situation for the hostages began to deteriorate. Some hostages decided to break free on their own. And only A. Fujimori, for whom it was absolutely unacceptable to follow the terrorists’ lead and release their comrades-in-arms from prison, seemed inactive. In the country, his popularity has fallen extremely low. The president's inaction outraged the international community. No one knew that a group of specially trained people was digging a tunnel under the embassy. On the advice of the previously released hostages, the assault on the embassy began during a football match, which the terrorists were playing among themselves at a certain time of day. The capture group sat in the secret tunnel for about two days. When the assault began, the entire operation took 16 minutes. All terrorists were destroyed during the assault, all hostages were freed.

Hostage syndrome- this is a serious shock state of change in a person’s consciousness. The hostages fear the storming of the building and the violent operation of the authorities to free them more than the threats of terrorists. They know: terrorists understand well that as long as the hostages are alive, the terrorists themselves are alive. The hostages take a passive position; they have no means of self-defense either against terrorists or in the event of an assault. The only protection for them may be a tolerant attitude from terrorists. The anti-terrorist action to free hostages poses a more serious danger to them than even to terrorists who have the ability to defend themselves. Therefore, hostages become psychologically attached to terrorists. In order to eliminate the cognitive dissonance between the knowledge that terrorists are dangerous criminals whose actions threaten them with death, and the knowledge that the only way to save their lives is to show solidarity with terrorists, hostages choose situational causal attribution. They justify their attachment to terrorists with the desire to save their lives in this extreme situation.

This behavior of hostages during an anti-terrorist operation is very dangerous. There are known cases when a hostage, seeing a special forces soldier, shouted to warn the terrorists of his appearance and even shielded the terrorist with his body. The terrorist even hid among the hostages; no one exposed him. The criminal does not reciprocate the feelings of the hostages at all. They are not living people for him, but a means to achieve his goal. The hostages, on the contrary, hope for his sympathy. As a rule, Stockholm Syndrome goes away after the terrorists kill the first hostage.