Once again, forensic criminologist Dr Pixie du Toit graced the event to share her expertise on the syndrome, which she described as a form of traumatic bonding which does not necessarily require a hostage situation.
“The syndrome is formed because of the strong emotional ties that develop between two people where the one threatens, intimidates and abuses the other,” said du Toit.
The name Stockholm Syndrome derives from a 1973 hostage incident in Stockholm, Sweden, and has over time become associated with the behaviour of kidnapped victims who became sympathetic to their captors.
Du Toit pointed out a famous case of Patty Hearst who was captured by a radical political group in 1974. She eventually became an accomplice of the group and assisted them in several bank robberies.
According to du Toit, Stockholm Syndrome has a quality of mystery as the victim becomes infatuated with the abuser.
“I have just completed an assessment on a woman who was held captive by her husband for approximately 12 years.
“During this time she was physically and sexually assaulted by him, isolated from her family, forced to have bondage sex with him and whenever she did not want to comply to his demands, he physically tortured her children to force her to do whatever he wanted her to do.
“The court case starts in the near future, but what was particularly sad to me is during the assessment she told me that even though she knows what he did was wrong, she still loved him and she hopes they will be together one day.”
She said it is important to understand why victims support, love and defend their abusers.
“We need to understand there are components involved such as positive feelings by the victim towards the abuser, the victim supporting the abusers reasons and behaviours, and the victim resisting to be rescued, which are all factors that the victim is being manipulated and controlled,” du Toit said.
She outlined symptoms or conditions that serve as a foundation for the development of Stockholm Syndrome which are:
*The presence of a perceived threat to one’s physical or psychological survival and the belief that the abuser will carry out his threat.
*The presence of perceived small kindnesses from the abuser to the victim.
*Isolation from family and friends.
*The perceived inability to escape the situation.
Du Toit pointed out that this type of behavior causes damages to the victim, as victims often think that by changing their behaviour, and doing only what they know pleases their partner or meeting their demands will change their behaviour.
However, more than often this does not work.
“Loving a shark does not protect us if we find ourselves dripping blood in a shark tank.
“This type of violent personality is permanent and a long-standing pattern. Time does not change their personality or behaviour.
“Marrying and having a baby, for example, actually makes their dysfunctional behaviour worse.
“The presence of stress also exaggerates and amplifies their bad behaviour.”
Du Toit encouraged the ladies who attended the ERBW meeting to support friends or family members who are in that situation to understand their situation.
