Stockholm syndrome
noun Psychiatry.
an emotional attachment to a captor formed by a hostage as a result of continuous stress, dependence, and a need to cooperate for survival.
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
British Dictionary definitions for stockholm syndrome
Stockholm syndrome
noun
a psychological condition in which hostages or kidnap victims become sympathetic towards their captors
Word Origin for Stockholm syndrome
C20: after a group of hostages in Stockholm in 1973
Medical definitions for stockholm syndrome
Stockholm syndrome
[ stŏk′hōlm′, -hōm′ ]
n.
A phenomenon in which a hostage begins to identify with and grow sympathetic to his or her captor.