Lima Syndrome

DisclaimerThis page is not here to be used as a self-diagnosis, self-identification, or promotion - it's simply here to be informational. Whether or not one self-diagnoses, self-identifies, and/or seeks a professional diagnosis is up to them.AbuseThe following page includes discussions of abuse, including verbal, physical, neglect, sexual (**SA also has its own warning**), etc. If you are uncomfortable or get triggered by this topic, it is recommended to not read this page.

**Lima Syndrome** is a psychological response in which a captor or abuser develops a positive bond with their victim(s). The effects of Lima syndrome lessens the likelihood of the captives being harmed while increasing the chances that they will be freed or allowed to escape.

### Behind the Name

Lima syndrome gets its name from a hostage crisis that began in late 1996 in Lima, Peru. Several hundred guests at a party held by the Japanese ambassador were captured and held hostage. In the first month of the crisis, a large number of hostages of high importance were released.

These captors were members of the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MTRA), their key demand was the release of MTRA members from prison. This made the release of hostages of high importance feel unusual.

## Signs & Symptoms

An individual may have Lima syndrome when they:

* Are in the position of a captor or abuser.
* Form a positive connection with their victim(s).

The use of "positive connection" is broad and can include many types of feelings. Some examples include one or more of the following:

* Feeling empathy for the captive's situation.
* Becoming more attentive to the captive's need or wants.
* Beginning to identify with a captive.
* Developing feelings of attachment, fondness or affection for a captive.

## Causes

Lima syndrome is still poorly understood and very little research has been done into what causes it. Most of what is known comes from the hostage crisis in Lima, Peru.

After the crisis, those involved were evaluated by a medical team, it was found that many MTRA members developed attachments to their captives.

The following characteristics were also observed:

* Youth, many of the MTRA members involved in the hostage crisis were teenagers or young adults.
* Ideology, many of the captors had little knowledge of the political issues behind the operation and were more involved for monetary gain.

It appears that individuals who develop Lima syndrome may be younger, more inexperienced, or lack strong convictions.

In addition, other factors could play a role:

* Rapport, establishing friendly rapport with a captor could contribute to a positive bond. Many of the captives in the Lima crisis were diplomats who had experience with communication and negotiation.
* Time, spending a prolonged period with an individual could promote the growth of a connection. But this might not have been the case with the Lima crisis because many hostages were released early on.

## Stockholm Syndrome

Stockholm Syndrome is when an individual develops positive feelings towards their captor or abuser. It's considered the opposite of Lima syndrome.

## References

https://www.healthline.com/health/lima-syndrome

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/899520\_5