A failed bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, 50 years ago gave rise to the term “Stockholm syndrome,” which refers to the psychological bond that can develop between hostage-takers and their captives. The term was coined by Swedish criminologist and psychiatrist Nils Bejerot, who observed this phenomenon during a bank robbery in August 1973.
Bejerot initially called it “Norrmalmstorg syndrome” after the square where the heist took place, but it eventually became known as Stockholm syndrome internationally. Bejerot’s daughter, Susanne, said her father never anticipated that the term would become so widely recognized. The incident involved a convicted thief named Jan-Erik Olsson, who took four bank employees hostage and demanded a ransom.
During the standoff, some hostages developed sympathies for their captor and even turned against the police. The situation ended after a week when the police stormed the bank, arrested the perpetrators, and freed the hostages. The term “Stockholm syndrome” has since been used to describe similar situations worldwide, including the kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patty Hearst in the 1970s. While some experts question whether Stockholm syndrome is a psychological condition or simply a survival strategy, it continues to be referenced in popular culture and has influenced movies and songs.
