SRA-211-9-Psychological_Reasons_for_Terr.ppt - Security And Risk Analysis 211 with Barnes at Pennsylvania State University - All Campuses - StudyBlue File Size: 18 Views: 3 Advertisement Advertisement Psychological Reasons for Terrorism SRA-21l, Threat of Terrorism and Crime Penn State Altoona David Barnes Stockholm Syndrome Psychological response found in some victims Hostages become dependent on their captors, and come to identify, sympathize and support their captors Named for a 1973 botched bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, in which the hostages emerged from the situation very supportive of their captors Can Psychology Help with Terrorism? Expressive view Terrorists are motivated largely by psychological reasons. They react without much thought Instrumental view Acts of terrorism are deliberate, rational and guided by a calculated plan Expressive View Terrorism is a result of psychological issues Terrorists rationalize acts that they were psychologically compelled to commit anyway Terrorists are polarized. They are righteous freedom fighters; we are evil Terrorists Are Not Abnormal?

Studies of the IRA found no evidence of psychological abnormalities Terrorists who actually enjoy killing and violence tend to be unimportant figures within terrorist organizations and are followers rather than leaders Comparative studies of different terrorist groups do not show a particular psychological type or uniform terrorist mind Splitting/Externalization A borderline personality disorder in which the individual ascribes all that is good to himself and projects or externalizes all that is bad to others Splitting seems to be represented disproportionally among terrorists Family Background Come from broken homes Lost a father prior to age 14 Severe conflicts with their parents Convicted in juvenile courts A pattern of life long failure Other Psychological Factors Often not actually members of the societies they purport to commit their acts for Seldom a well though out program, usually an expressive outburst Chosen trauma-violent political behavior is the result of some selected historical experience that triggers a disproportionally violent reaction Temptation versus Intimidation Psychiatric Typology of Terrorism Crusaders commit terrorist acts to please God or the people they represent. They will not negotiate Criminals commit terrorism for personal gain. They are rational and will negotiate Crazies commit terrorist acts because they are mad.

Note that crazy does not mean stupid Instrumental View Opposite of the expressive view Terrorism is a logical strategy based upon rational cost-benefit analysis Terrorists are usually normal people pursing a rational, deliberate strategy Instrumental View of Psychology Psychological aspects of terrorist's behavior are important when analyzing the group's influence on individual behavior, but emphasizing psychological aspects is not helpful because there are too many reasons why people become terrorists Instead, consider the reasons for terrorism Situations in places where terrorism exists Reasons for terrorism Role of the individual terrorists Situation-Preconditions Enabling causes of terrorism Poverty Society prone to violence Technology such as bombs Urbanization-densely populated areas make attacks easier and more effective Social habits and historical conditions such as Pakistan Precipitants Reasons for terrorism, or what provides motivation and direction of terrorists If the police or army attacked a family member, that might motivate terrorists Black Friday in Iran in which the Shah's troops started shooting at people is widely considered to be a classical precipitant Seven Terrorist Motives Publicize the cause Disrupt establishment's normal function Create public sympathy Provoke a harsh response from the government Add cohesion, boost morale of the group Counter the government's greater military power Capitalize on unique historical opportunities Role of the Individual Instrumental view doesn't focus on psychological issues, but

 it also doesn't ignore them Things can be learned from individual terrorist's psychological makeup Common psychological characteristics are studied Attributes Common to Terrorists High tolerance to risk Heavy reliance on the group Vengeance for jailed or killed comrades Sense of guilt used to justify their actions Dedication to a political belief or cause More Common Attributes Willingness to self sacrifice Suppress normal emotions Reasonably high intelligence Education Access to resources Words From Our Students "StudyBlue is great for studying.

I love the study guides, flashcards and quizzes. So extremely helpful for all of my classes!" Alice , Arizona State University "I'm a student using StudyBlue, and I can 100% say that it helps me so much. Study materials for almost every subject in school are available in StudyBlue. It is so helpful for my education!" Tim , University of Florida "StudyBlue provides way more features than other studying apps, and thus allows me to learn very quickly!??I actually feel much more comfortable taking my exams after I study with this app. It's amazing!" Jennifer , Rutgers University "I love flashcards but carrying around physical flashcards is cumbersome and simply outdated. StudyBlue is exactly what I was looking for!" Justin , LSU September 18, 2009 at 5:00am What does porn addiction have to do with Stockholm Syndrome? I was speaking recently with my good friend Jeff of Glass City Church about this, and the more we spoke, the more I saw the parallels. Stockholm Syndrome is a curious psychological response where hostages begin to show loyalty to their captors. The criminologist Nils Bejerot coined this term after assisting police during a bank robbery which turned into a hostage crisis.

After 6 days the hostages were showing signs of sympathy towards their captors. In fact one of the hostages and one of the robbers later became good friends. While there is considerable discussion surrounding the exact nature of this phenomenon, there have been several reported cases of the syndrome; some hostages seem to form powerful emotional attachments to their victimizers as an internal defense mechanism. - - - - Longing for Egypt We can see Stockholm-like symptoms in the attitudes of the wandering Israelites. It had only been a few weeks since they had seen God split the Red Sea, yet even after that incredible deliverance, Israel still murmured against God when they ran out of provisions. The whole camp of Israel had grown bitter as they thought back to their life of slavery in Egypt. At least there, they thought, they ate around pots of meat and had all the bread they wanted (Exodus 16:1-3). Similarly, after hearing about the great foes that awaited them in Canaan, instead of trusting God to help them enter the land, they said, “Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt? Let us choose a leader and go back” (Number 14:1-4).

Wasn’t this the same group of people who, in Exodus 2:23, groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help? Yet instead of remembering the cruelty of Egypt—the task masters, the heavy burdens, the years of toil making bricks under the hot sun, and the ruthless slaughter of their children—they remembered pots of meat. - - - - Longing for Porn I have been just as guilty of the same lunacy when it comes to my habitual sins, such as my compulsive use of pornography. Sure, in my most sober moments I could see the ugliness of sin for what it was. But there were many moments when I rushed back to porn like a dog to its vomit. In those times it was like I was blind to the treachery, the sadness, the shame, and the oppressiveness of my addiction. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say: I saw all those things, but they somehow seemed less ugly. Something in me wanted to be addicted, wanted the slavery, because I had developed a strong attachment to that slave master. Sure, he made my life a living hell, but there was a sort of twisted comfort in the fleeting pleasures he offered.

It was like I was walking around in a fog of confusion. The apostle Peter diagnosed this as spiritual “nearsightedness.” He speaks of the Christian who, though he has escaped the corrupt desires of the world, lacks qualities of virtue, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, and love because he has become “so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins” (2 Peter 1:9). - - - - The Sin of Unbelief What root sin really caused the Israelites to long for Egypt? The book of Hebrews tells us: “For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened” (Hebrews 4:2). There were some who trusted God’s promises about entering the land of Canaan. But most did not have this faith. They were unable to enter because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:19). It wasn’t that Egypt was better than the wilderness, but that trusting the Egyptian slave masters was somehow easier than trusting God. Sure, Egypt was a cruel place, but at least it was a predictable place.

Similarly, for me it wasn’t that slavery to porn was all that desirable, but it was easier for me than trusting God. Sure, I knew the cruelty of the slave master’s rod, but at least in front of my computer he delivered predictable rations. In the wilderness of trust, however, I would be asked to die to my selfish demands and enter the unpredictability of following God’s Spirit. In order for me to get to the root of my porn addiction, I needed to own up to my sin of unbelief. - - - - The Fight of Faith What is real faith? The Bible says faith is a deep, firm, and welcoming conviction which enables us to feel and act as if we have seen the invisible and future realities of which God speaks (Hebrews 11:1). To have faith is to trust God, to eagerly anticipate His faithfulness to His covenant promises, and live our lives accordingly. Faith is also something we must fight to maintain because we live in a world that is contrary to God’s ways. We have a powerful enemy—Satan—behind each temptation. We live in an atmosphere of autonomy; the world around us would just as soon forget God and deny His authority over us.

Lastly, our own brains and bodies still impulsively react in almost animalistic ways to this decaying world. We are like fish swimming upstream. And yet we are told by the apostle Peter amidst this battle that we may “become partakers of the divine nature,” mimicking Christ in His virtue. How? By God granting to us “his precious and very great promises” (2 Peter 1:3-4). The Spirit of God enters our dead hearts for the purpose of inspiring in us fresh faith, enabling us to see the greatness and the preciousness of these promises. Every step we take towards deeper life in God is a step of repentance: a choice to turn from unbelief towards a wholehearted belief that God is faithful, that He will deliver what He promises. Practically speaking, for me, this means laying hold of the promise that the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8), and that someday I will see Christ face to face when He comes to set the world right. This hope is what fuels my desire to purify myself as He is pure (1 John 3:1-3).

On my way to the abundance of the Promised Land, I have the past acts of God’s deliverance to inspire me, the Word of God to teach me, and the fire of the Spirit of God to go before me. These things give me a taste of that land. Only by that new and powerful longing for the Promised Land can there be any hope to remove my longing for Egypt. To be sure, until that day, Egypt will still be in my blood. I will bear the scars of my former slave master’s whips. In my foggiest moment I will naturally be drawn to the memory of the pots of meat. But God feeds me with the heavenly manna of Christ’s broken body. He has given me a taste for milk and honey. And He has given me traveling companions that constantly remind me that we are on our way home. How Real Is the Stockholm Syndrome? How Real Is the Stockholm Syndrome?

Patty Hearst during a 1974 bank robbery The image of heiress Patty Hearst, with her automatic rifle slung over her shoulder during a 1974 bank robbery, is synonymous with any mention of the Stockholm syndrome, described as the tendency for abductees to sympathize with, and even join, their abductors. Thirty years later when kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart was found to have taken no action to escape her kidnappers after nine months of opportunities, the term was flaunted by the news again. But in psychological circles, the Stockholm syndrome is not necessarily taken for granted quite so easily. Is the Stockholm syndrome a real psychological phenomenon, or is it just a media buzzword, an attention-grabbing label that can be slapped onto every abduction case where the victim could have escaped but didn't? It was 1973 when furloughed prisoner Janne Olsson attempted to rob the Norrmalmstorg Kreditbanken in Stockholm, Sweden. A police standoff ensued, during which Olsson took four young women hostage who worked at the bank. He demanded his friend Clark Olofsson be brought there from the prison to help him, which police granted.

Olofsson joined Olsson and the hostages in the bank vault for six days until the crisis was ended without casualties by police tear gas. Despite two police officers being injured by sporadic gunfire from the robbers, the hostages reported that neither Olsson nor Olofsson mistreated them, and that they were more frightened of the police than of the robbers. Although Olsson went back to jail, Olofsson's conviction was dropped and he later became friends with one of the hostages and her family. The hostage negotiations were assisted by a psychiatrist named Nils Bejerot, and it was he, who, during a later interview, first used the term Stockholm syndrome. It has come to be applied by the media whenever hostages express empathy toward their captors. Upon examination, it seems a radical and paradoxical idea. Should not one tend to feel hatred toward a captor who has threatened your life? And yet an important aspect of the syndrome is that hostages tend to resist being rescued, even passing up opportunities. They are said to want to defend their captors against the rescuers. Some, like Patty Hearst, join them and take up arms against the authorities.

Surely such profoundly counterintuitive behavior must be described prominently in the psychological literature? But it is not. There is no "Stockholm syndrome" in the psychology textbooks, or in the DSM-5 (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is the Bible of the psychological profession). It's also not a Medical Subject Heading (MeSH); these are all the entries in the U.S. National Library of Medicine vocabulary used for indexing journal articles in the life sciences. So, strictly speaking, the Stockholm syndrome is not a recognized condition in the medical or psychological literature. Moreover, it's definitely not a syndrome in the clinical sense. Syndrome implies a pathology, and the whole idea behind the Stockholm syndrome is that it is a normal, if surprising, reaction to a hostage situation. But whether the terminology is accurate or not, that's what has stuck. But the lack of clinical acknowledgment doesn't mean people don't study it and write about it. Psychologists have generally defined the phenomenon we call the Stockholm syndrome well enough that we're able to look at real-world cases and be able to decide which ones should count and which shouldn't. This hinges on the specifics of the hostages' situation prior to the development of their positive bond with the captor.

The most often accepted criteria are these, though many researchers will give a slightly different list: The hostages have to genuinely believe that they are under a real threat of death. The hostages have to perceive some small act of kindness from the captor. The hostages have to be isolated from outside influences such that their captor's perspective is the only one to which they're exposed. The hostage must perceive that there is no possibility of escape. If all four of these are the case, and the hostage then develops a positive bond with the captor, such as defending or supporting him, or preferring to remain with the captor than to go with rescuers, then their behavior qualifies to be called the Stockholm syndrome, at least for the purposes of research and study. One of the questions such research has tried to answer is how and why would such a thing exist? Why would mentally healthy people exhibit such self-defeating behavior? It's important to note that a lack of data has hampered the research, so the suggestions to answer this question are really just educated guesses. Here are a few: The circumstances of a hostage situation mean that the hostages are dependent upon the captors for everything from food and bathroom breaks to life or death.

Some hostages who are young or otherwise tend toward dependency may have difficulty breaking this bond. Some hostages may misinterpret the hyperarousal caused by fear (also called the acute stress response) as an attraction or a powerful bond. Some hostages may involuntarily assume a pseudo-identity as a way to cope, perhaps an identity who is on good (and thus safe) terms with the captor. Adopting friendly behavior can reduce the perceived stress of the situation, making it easier to adapt and cope. Research done at Virginia Commonwealth University and published in 1994 set out to see how and why this could happen. Researchers created a "highly stressful simulated captivity situation" with terrorists and hostages in an experiment that was designed explicitly to test the Stockholm syndrome. Afterwards, participants were interviewed to learn what sort of relationship developed between them. What transpired in this case was in line with what we expect in normal life with no paradox: When the hostages and the terrorists got along reasonably well, the experience was reported to be less negative; while in cases where they did not get along well the experience was reported as more negative.

A less dominant and more friendly terrorist was found to be more likely to build a rapport with his hostages than was a terrorist who was more dominant and less friendly. But this study design had a weakness in relation to the standard definitions of the Stockholm syndrome: its hostages were placed in a stressful situation, but did not (could not) believe they were actually going to die. It's not very easy to create an experiment to study the Stockholm syndrome because of ethical considerations. Looking back at our criteria, it's important for the hostages to believe that their lives are in real danger and that there is no possibility of escape. Well, try setting that up with a bunch of college students, and you're going to find yourself on the wrong end of more lawsuits than you can count. Research published in 2007 took a slightly different angle to avoid this problem. Since they were studying the possible evolutionary basis, the researchers figured one evolved primate was as good as another, so they surveyed the literature looking for cases where chimpanzees had been subjected to "traumatic entrapment" — hoped to be a good enough substitute for a human hostage situation. They found responses similar to what we call the Stockholm syndrome.

After a chimp was attacked by another and suffered post-conflict anxiety, it tended to return to the attacker for comfort. Why? They concluded that if the defeated chimp went to other chimps for support, the dominant attacker chimp might interpret that as rallying support for another fight. This return to the attacker for support would have the effect of defusing potential future fights, which is good for everyone. It's also noteworthy that the Stockholm syndrome is really only one very specific manifestation of the broader phenomenon of "misplaced attachment". Consider some of the other more familiar cases, that when examined in closer detail, are just as self-defeating: Intelligent people who join strange cults and devote their entire lives to a leader. Boy soldiers who unquestionably follow every order of brutal officers. Abused women who stay with violent husbands and often defend their actions. Misplaced attachment is not an urban legend. Most such cases involve people exposed to highly stressful (and often dangerous) situations for protracted periods of time. This isn't easy on anyone. Stress is very powerful, and is quite capable of inflicting lasting changes on a person.

Most people are familiar with Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) where the victim of a stressful trauma may experience flashbacks and other such symptoms, combined with the acute stress response or "fight-or-flight" response. But there is also a less familiar type called complex PTSD, which has been closely associated with the Stockholm syndrome and includes personality changes, behavioral changes, and changes in identity and self control. The triggering causes of complex PTSD are generally described as taking place over a long period of time, such a long period of an abusive relationship. In the worst cases, the coping mechanism includes an almost obsessive preoccupation with the abuser, sometimes believing him to be God, and/or believing that the relationship has supernatural aspects , e.g., the victim may believe herself to be a "chosen one". In cases where the abuser has a specific belief system, it is common for the victim to adopt that belief system too. Given these admittedly shocking responses seen in complex PTSD, Stockholm syndrome behavior seems tame and harmless by comparison. Sometimes we speak of the Stockholm syndrome almost like a joke or a jab. Someone doesn't quit their job under an idiot boss? Oh, it's the Stockholm syndrome.

Or we express bewilderment at real cases: We hear about the kidnapped teenager who lives for years with a captor, abused daily, and actively avoids making an easy escape. Are these people nuts? —because that's what a "syndrome" suggests. They're not nuts. They are reacting along one expected pathway, according to evolved behavior, to an extraordinarily stressful assault. Their reaction may not be the best one from a practical standpoint, but for their own psychology, or for the broader desirable outcome of reduced conflict, the misplaced development of a positive bond is one natural and understandable resolution. Clinically, the Stockholm syndrome probably doesn't deserve a place of its own, but only because complex PTSD is already there. Complex PTSD is serious — many of us know someone who genuinely suffers from it or from regular PTSD — so let's not take any part of it lightly, including that particular manifestation from Sweden with the catchy media label. Cite this article: Dunning, B. "How Real Is the Stockholm Syndrome?" Skeptoid Podcast. Skeptoid Media, 17 Nov 2015. Web. 31 Dec 2016. < References & Further Reading Allen, J., Huntoon, J., Evans, R.

"Complexities in complex posttraumatic stress disorder in inpatient women: evidence from cluster analysis of MCMI-III Personality Disorder Scales." Journal of Personality Assessment. 1 Dec. 1999, Volume 73, Number 3: 449-471. Auerbach, S., Kiesler, D., Strentz, T., Schmidt, J., Serio, C. "Interpersonal Impacts and Adjustment to the Stress of Simulated Captivity: An Empirical Test of the Stockholm Syndrome." Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 1 Jun. 1994, Volume 13, Number 2: 207-221. Cantor, C., Price, J. "Traumatic entrapment, appeasement and complex post-traumatic stress disorder: evolutionary perspectives of hostage reactions, domestic abuse and the Stockholm syndrome." Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 1 May 2007, Volume 41, Number 5: 377-384.

Graham, D., Rawlings, E., Ihms, K., Latimer, D., Foliano, J., Thompson, A., Suttman, K., Farrington, M., Hacker, R. "A scale for identifying Stockholm syndrome reactions in young dating women: factor structure, reliability, and validity." Violence & Victims. 1 Apr. 1995, Volume 10, Number 1: 3-22. Herman, J. "Complex PTSD: A syndrome in survivors of prolonged and repeated trauma." Journal of Traumatic Stress. 1 Jul. 1992, Volume 5, Issue 3: 377-391. Namnyak, M., Tufton, N., Szekely, R., Toal, M., Worboys, S., Sampson, E. "Stockholm syndrome: psychiatric diagnosis or urban myth?" Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 1 Jan. 2008, Volume 177, Number 1: 4-11. Copyright ©2016 Skeptoid Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Rights and reuse information How to Survive an Abduction or Hostage Situation (with Pictures) Community Q&A One minute you're getting in your car to go to work and the next you're bound and gagged in the back of a speeding van. For most people, being kidnapped or held hostage is a terrifying experience. And it happens that fast. Sometimes so fast that you can't even attempt to escape your abductor(s) . Fortunately, most kidnapping victims are released unharmed, mostly fairly quickly. Make no mistake though: any abduction can turn deadly, and whether or not the victim survives depends largely on decisions he or she makes while in captivity. Steps 1 Attempt to thwart the abduction. If you can escape the initial abduction attempt, your ordeal ends right there. However, the first few minutes of a hostage-taking situation or an abduction are the most dangerous, and they become more dangerous if you resist. While in many cases, the potential for immediate escape outweighs the danger of resistance, there are times (if there are multiple armed attackers, for example) where escape is not realistic and therefore not worth the risk. Think rationally and be cooperative in this sort of situation.

The first few minutes are often the best time to resist since there are probably people around you depending on where you are. If this is the case and there are others around you, this is the best time to fight back in a way that will gain others' attention and perhaps provide you with their help. After they have you where they want you (in a car or such) there will most likely be no one who can respond to your petitions for rescue. 2 Regain your composure. Your adrenaline will be pumping, your heart will be pounding and you will be terrified. Calm down. The sooner you can regain your composure the better off you will be immediately and in the long run. 3 Be observant. Right from the start, you should try to observe and remember as much as possible in order to help you plan an escape, predict your abductor's next moves, or give information to the police to aid in a rescue or to help apprehend and convict the kidnapper. You may not be able to use your eyes - you may be blindfolded, but you can still gather information with your senses of hearing, touch and smell. Observe your captor(s): Are you injured or wounded? How are you bound or otherwise incapacitated?

How much freedom of movement do you have? 4 Try to ascertain why you have been abducted. There are a variety of motivations for abduction, from sexual assault to ransom demands to political leverage. How you interact with your captors, and whether or not you risk an escape, should depend at least partly on your captors' motivation. If they are holding you for ransom or to negotiate the release of prisoners, you are most likely worth far more to them alive than dead. However, if you've been captured by a serial killer or sexual predator, or if you've been abducted in retaliation for some political or military action, your abductor likely intends to kill you. Your decision of if and when to attempt an escape should be made based on this information. 5 Keep a survival attitude. Be positive. Remember, most kidnapping victims survive - the odds are with you. That said, you should prepare yourself for a long captivity. Some hostages have been held for years but they kept a positive attitude, played their cards right and were eventually freed. Take it one day at a time. 6 Put your captor at ease. Be calm. Cooperate (within reason) with your captor.

Don't make threats or become violent and don't attempt to escape unless the time is right (see below). 7 Keep your dignity. It is generally psychologically harder for a person to kill, rape or otherwise harm a captive if the captive remains "human" in the captor's eyes. Do not grovel, beg or become hysterical. Try even not to cry. Do not challenge your abductor but show him/her that you are worthy of respect. 8 Attempt to establish a rapport with your abductor. If you can build some sort of bond with your captor, he/she will generally be more hesitant to harm you. If your abductor is suffering from a form of paranoid psychosis, it's best that you appear non-threatening, but also avoid doing anything that could be construed as manipulation (such as attempting to befriend them), as individuals experiencing paranoid delusions will likely assume you are yet another person conspiring against them. If they feel they are losing control, they may react with a violent outburst. Do not attempt to convince them that their delusions are unfounded, as they may become enraged, and either way it is unlikely they will believe you (from their perspective, their delusions make perfect sense and seem like reality).

9 Avoid insulting your abductor or talking about potentially sensitive subjects. You may think your abductor is a pathetic, disgusting individual. While captives in movies sometimes get away with saying such things, you should keep these thoughts to yourself. In addition, as in most conversations with people you don't know, politics is a good topic to stay away from, especially if you are being held by terrorists or hostage-takers that are politically motivated. 10 Be a good listener. Care about what your captor has to say. Don't patronize them, but be empathetic and they'll feel more comfortable around you and more benevolent toward you. Being a good listener can also help you gather information that would be useful for an escape or to help police apprehend the abductor after you're freed. Appeal to your captor's family feelings. If you have children and your captor also has children, you have a powerful bond already in place. Your captor can probably "put themselves in your shoes," realizing the impact their abduction or death would have on their family. If you have pictures of your family with you, consider showing one or more to your captors if the topic comes up. 11 Try to communicate with other captives.

If you are held with other captives, talk to them as much as is safely possible. If you look out for each other and have others to talk to, your captivity will be easier to handle. You may also be able to plan an effective escape together. Depending on the situation, your communication may have to be covert and if you're held for a long time you may develop codes and signals. 12 Keep track of time and try to discern patterns. Keeping track of time can help you establish routines that will enable you to maintain your dignity and your sanity. It can also help you plan and execute an escape if you can detect patterns of when your abductor comes and goes and for how long he is gone. If there are no clocks available, you will need to make a conscious effort to keep track of time . If you can see sunlight, it will be fairly easy but otherwise you can listen for changes in activity outside, make note of differences in your captor's awareness level, try to detect different food odors or look for other clues. 13 Stay mentally active. Think about what you'll do when you get back home. Hold conversations in your head with friends and loved ones.

Do these things consciously and you won't be going crazy - you'll be keeping yourself sane. Captivity can be boring and mind-numbing. It's important to challenge your mind so you can remain sane, but also so you can think rationally about escape. Do math problems, think of puzzles, try to recite poems you know, remember the lyrics to songs; do whatever you can to keep yourself occupied and mentally sharp. 14 Stay physically active. It can be difficult to remain in shape in captivity, especially if you're restrained, but it's important to do so if possible. Being in good physical condition can aid in your escape and keep you in good spirits during your captivity. Find ways to exercise, even if it's just doing jumping jacks, pushups , or even pushing your hands together or stretching. 15 Ask for small favors. If you're settled in for a long captivity, gradually ask for small accommodations. Request a heavier blanket, for example, or a newspaper. Keep requests small, at least initially, and space them far apart. You can make your captivity more comfortable and make yourself more human to your captors. 16 Blend in.

If you are held with other captives, you don't want to stand out, especially not as a troublemaker. 17 Watch out for warning signs. If your captors decide to kill you, you need to know as soon as possible so that you can plan an escape. If they suddenly stop feeding you, if they treat you more harshly (dehumanizing you), if they suddenly seem desperate or frightened, or if other hostages are being released but your captors don't appear to intend to release you, be ready to make your best move. If they suddenly stop hiding their identities after wearing masks etc, this is a very strong sign that they are planning to kill you, so escape as quickly as possible. 18 Try to escape only if the time is right. When is the right time to escape? Sometimes it's safest to just wait to be freed or rescued. However, if the perfect situation presents itself - if you have a solid plan and are almost certain that you can successfully escape - you should take advantage of the opportunity. You should also attempt to escape, even if your chances are not good, if you are reasonably certain that your captors are going to kill you. 19 Stay out of the way if a rescue attempt is made.

Hooray - the cavalry is here! Before you get too excited, keep in mind that aside from the first few minutes of an abduction, the rescue attempt is the most dangerous time in a hostage situation. Your captors may become desperate and attempt to use you as a shield or they may simply decide to kill any hostages. Even if your captors are taken by surprise, you could be killed by the actions of police or soldiers, who may use explosives and heavy firepower to enter a building. When a rescue attempt occurs, try to hide from your captors, if possible. Stay low, and protect your head with your hands, or try to get behind some kind of protective barrier (under a desk or table, for example, or in a bathtub). Don't make sudden movements when armed rescuers burst in. 20 Follow the rescuers' instructions carefully. Your rescuers will be on edge, and they will most likely shoot first and ask questions later. Obey all commands they give. If they tell everybody to lie down on the floor or put their hands on their heads, for example, do it. Your rescuers may even restrain you with zip-ties or handcuffs while they discern who are hostages and who are the kidnappers.

Remain calm and put rescuers at ease. Community Q&A What if I am going to different places? wikiHow Contributor It would be beneficial if you could recognize any patterns -- e.g., perhaps you would have been moved to the same area twice. It is also important to identify them. If you see the same people, you will be able to slowly build a bond with them, regardless of where you are. Remember: every time you are moved there is a chance to escape. What should I do if I'm bound and gagged? wikiHow Contributor Try to stay calm, as always, and still think about escape. If you want to make requests, try to say it with your eyes. Or you can even try talking and they may remove the gag to listen to what you have to say. Just don't make them take it off too often. Also be careful about what you're looking at. What happens if they never feed you? wikiHow Contributor If they don't feed you then they are most likely holding you for political reasons and intend on killing you straight away. Either that or they're standard street thugs and have no idea what they're doing.

This can be used in your favour as the kidnapping, most likely, will be hectic and not fully thought out. Look for flaws in the kidnapper's plans, did they leave the window open? Did they forget to take your watch off? All of these are signs that they're standard thugs and don't know what they're doing. And yell for food if you're hungry, it can remind them not to dehumanize you. What if my captor is a drug addict? Then what do I do? wikiHow Contributor First of all, be sure to avoid eye contact when the captor is high as this can induce anger and can get you hurt. You could try to help them overcome the addiction (because they might release you if you form a bond). Respect them as best you can and don't say anything to infuriate them. How do I calm myself down if I'm kidnapped? wikiHow Contributor Breathe slowly, count backwards from 1,000. If you focus on something that takes your mind off your current situation, you will find that it is easier to calm yourself.

Use the time to observe everything that you can, as your life may depend on doing this and on working out which of your abductors might be talked around to letting you go. By focusing on exit strategies that involve keeping you alive, you will be engrossed enough to remain calm rather than staying constantly upset. It may also help to choose to care for others captured with you, as putting yourself in charge of their well-being can help to keep you calm. What if I am kidnapped by someone I know? wikiHow Contributor If you know the person, it may be easier to form a bond with him/her. Knowing his personality and fears could give you an advantage, as you have more material on which to base decisions. Assess what you know: Is he smart? Is he strong? Does he have any physical/mental disabilities? All of this knowledge can be used to your advantage if you play your cards correctly. If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know. Tips If you're placed in a trunk, try to escape. If you can't get out, rip out or kick through the panel leading to the brake lights, and kick the lights out.

You can then stick your arm out and alert motorists that you are inside. If you can't push the lights out, at least disconnect the wires so police are more likely to pull the car over. In addition, yell for help and pound on the trunk lid whenever the vehicle stops or is traveling slowly. Try to get a good look at your surroundings to find out where you are. If you are able to dial 9-1-1 or make any requests for rescue, it's better to do it unnoticed. For example, if you have a panic button or a cellphone, try to leave the line open so that emergency services can attempt to trace your call. Be polite to your captors. Even though you may not feel like showing them respect, they may in turn, show you respect. Avoid struggling if you are restrained. It's a good idea to discreetly test your bonds, but don't struggle too much or you could injure yourself. If you escape, contact police and describe exactly what your captors looked like. They may, in the future, get caught!

Listen to sounds around you like car hooters, birds or sirens and smells are vital, if you get more or less the same smell each day you'll know it's a suburban area. Develop a safe word with your family or friends. If your captors attempt to contact them, police or family will ask for proof of life, this is when you use the safe word or phrase. Make sure it's a word that you are able to slip into a sentence undetected. Remember the turns that the captors take and things that you hear on the way like seagulls or jackhammers. If you're a foreign national in a hostile country, or if you're captured during wartime, consider the implications of an escape. For one thing, if people won't help you or, worse yet, if they're likely to assist your abductors, you're probably better off not attempting to escape. There is also the possibility, especially during an active conflict, that you're safer where you are than you would be if you escaped. Weigh your decision carefully, because getting away from your captors may just be the beginning of your ordeal. Eat whatever you are given and avoid complaining at all costs.

Do what you have to do to stay alive. Get on your back and kick and scream so the captors can't get you that easily. Think that if you get caught, you die. Fight all you can. If you're forced into a vehicle, open the door and get out if you can. If you can't get out of the vehicle, try to jam something into the ignition cylinder before the abductor inserts the key into the ignition or pull the key out of the ignition and jam something in. A button off your clothes, a piece of metal, a stick or the bubble gum in your mouth can all effectively prevent the abductor from inserting the key and starting the vehicle. Remember to cooperate and empathize with your captors but only within reason. In long periods of captivity, captives may develop what is known as Stockholm syndrome, in which they begin to identify with their captors, sometimes to the point of helping their captors commit crimes or escape justice. If possible, make sure that your hands are bound in front of you. An easy way to keep bonds loose is to ball your hands in fists and keep your wrists apart. If your are zip-tied or your hand are tied with rope, this can be highly effective.

If you are grabbed try to make a huge fuss or get your phone out so it looks like your calling the police if all else fails try to stab them in the windpipe with your fingers this should give you time to get away safely. If there is more than one person, try to get on good terms with them, especially if they are not the 'leader'. It will be easier to escape if they feel bad for you. Always be calm with the captor and collect everything you need to survive. Be careful what you eat because it could be spiked or drugged. Don't consume any food or drink they give you. They may be drugging you. When being restrained or tied up, remember to stiffen your muscles, as this will make them tie the ropes around around more loosely. Once they are gone, you can un-stiffen them. It will be easier to slip out of the rope/zip ties. If you are in the back of a new car, use it to your advantage. Law states that car trunks open from the inside. Getting a bruise is better than being abducted.

Warnings Keep in mind that if you are recaptured after an initial escape attempt, you will very likely not get another chance to escape - make your escape count. Don't get your hopes up. A positive attitude is important but if you get excited and then get let down, it will be hard to stay positive. If your captors begin to talk about your release, take it with a grain of salt. Don't set yourself up to be let down. Don't attempt to remove a blindfold, and don't try to take off a mask, either off yourself or off a captor. If the captor doesn't want you to see him/her, it could be a good sign: he/she may intend to release you and doesn't want you to be able to identify him. If, however, you then see him/her, he/she may decide to kill you because you can identify him/her. Be careful not talking to other captives, especially about escaping or about classified information you may have. A fellow captive may rat you out to court the favor of the kidnappers, or one of the "captives" may in fact be a spy for your captors.

Your attacker will likely be very mad when you fight back, especially if you cause him/her injury. Only become violent if you think you have a good chance of escape, and then do not hold back when attempting to injure your attacker - be as vicious and forceful as possible. It is imperative you escape once you stun or incapacitate the abductor because if you are recaptured he/she will take his/her anger out on you. Be careful about what you tell abductors. If they're holding you for ransom or for political collateral, it's usually best if they think you're wealthy or important, even if you're not. If they abducted you to kill you in retaliation for some political action, however, you want to seem very unimportant and uninvolved, even if you're not. It's very important to determine your captors' motivations so you can determine what to tell them, and what not to. Attempts to dial 9-1-1 or contact police might result in your captor(s) becoming enraged and possibly causing damage to you or any other persons in captivity. Do it unnoticed. The Stockholm Syndrome The Stockholm Syndrome Prev Contents Next The Stockholm Syndrome was originally developed to explain the phenomenon of hostages bonding with their captors.

The name refers to a bank holdup in Stockholm, Sweden in 1973 when four people were held hostage for six days by two men. The hostages and their captors bonded with each other and the hostages actually came to see their captors as protecting them from the police. One was even reported as later becoming engaged to one of the captors. Subsequent research found that such a reaction had occurred in allthe "hostage" groups studied, including cult members, battered women, incest victims and physically or emotionally abused children. Researchers have concluded that this seems to be a universal phenomenon which may be instinctive and thus play a survival function for hostages who are victims of abuse. There is no universally accepted definition of the Stockholm Syndrome but it has been suggested that it is present if one or more of the following is observed: positive feelings by the captive towards his/her captor. negative feelings by the captive toward the police or authorities trying to win his/her release. positive feelings by the captor towards his/her captive. It has been found to occur in circumstances where there is: a perceived threat to survival and a belief that the captor is willing to carry out that threat.

a perception by the captive of some small kindness from the captor within the context of terror. isolation from perspectives other than those of the captor. perceived inability to escape. The following explanation has been put forward for the phenomenon. The abuser (or captor) terrifies the victim, who cannot escape, by threatening his or her physical or psychological survival. As a result of being terrified the victim needs nurturance and protection. Being isolated from others, the victim must turn to the abuser for this if s/he turns to anyone. If the abuser shows the victim some small kindness this creates hope in the victim, who then ignores her rage at the terror-creating side of the abuser (because this rage would be experienced as overwhelming) and bonds to the positive side of the abuser. With the hope that the abuser will let him or her live, the victim works to keep the abuser happy. In trying to determine what will keep the abuser happy, the victim's own needs, feelings and perspectives must take second place and s/he unconsciously takes on the world view of the abuser. The victim sees the abuser as the "good guy" and those trying to win his/her release (e.g.

police or therapists) as the "bad guys", as this is the way the abuser sees things. Over a period of months or years, the victim's entire sense of self may come to be experienced through the eyes of the abuser. The victim may have extreme difficulty leaving the abuser, if the opportunity arises, because s/he no longer sees a reason to do so. For victims of sexual abuse, their families and therapists, the Stockholm Syndrome is useful in explaining the victim's experiences, current "symptoms" and the relationship between victim and abuser. It can help remove the tendency of the victim to blame him or herself for "allowing" the abuse to continue or for "causing" the abuse. It can also help to make sense of the ways in which the victim's perceptions of themselves and the abuser can be distorted, by explaining those distortions in terms of the Syndrome and making clear their origins as an instinctive survival function. The following are some common ways in which the victim's view of their situation can become distorted, with the corresponding explanations in terms of the Stockholm Syndrome: The victim denies the abuser's violence against him/her and focuses on his positive side.

Explanation: An unconscious attempt to find hope (and thus a way to survive) in a situation in which s/he would otherwise feel powerless and overwhelmed. The victim feels shame for abuse done to him/her. Explanation: Reflects the victim having taken the abuser's perspective (namely, that s/he caused the abuse and therefore it was deserved). The victim resents outsiders' attempts to free him/her from the abuser. Explanation: The victim knows that the abuser is likely to retaliate against him/her for any disloyalty shown, so s/he resists others' attempts to free her or to hold the abuser accountable for the abuse. The victim identifies with the "victim" in the abuser. Explanation: This represents the projection of the victim's own victim status onto the abuser. It enables the victim to feel sympathetic and caring towards the abuser. The victim believes s/he deserved the abuser's violence. Explanation: This represents an attempt to feel that s/he controls when and whether the violence/abuse is done and thus permits him/her to believe s/he can stop the abuse. The victim rationalises the abuser's violence against him/her.

Explanation: An attempt to maintain a bond with the abuser (and thus hope of survival) in the face of behaviour (abuse) that would otherwise destroy that bond (hope). Victim uses abuser-as-victim explanation to account for the abuse. Explanation: This represents an effort to see the abuser in a positive light so as to maintain the bond (since the bond provides the victim with the only hope of surviving). The victim feels hatred for that part of him/her which the abuser said led to the abuse. Explanation: To improve chances of survival, the victim internalises the abuser's perspective, including the reasons given for the abuse. The victim fears the abuser will come to get him/her, even if he is dead or in prison. Explanation: The victim knows the abuser is willing to "get" him/her because he has done so at least once before. The victim remains loyal in anticipation of his return.

iPhone Owners Plagued by Stockholm Syndrome, Analysts Say iPhone Owners Plagued by Stockholm Syndrome, Analysts Say GO Apple fanatics compared with hostages showing compassion for their captors in the 1973 Norrmalmstorg robbery of Kreditbanken at Norrmalmstorg, in Stockholm Dec 11, 2009 16:04 GMT · By Filip Truta · Share: iPhone users are suffering from delusion similar to the Stockholm Syndrome, according to research done by Strand Consult. The Stockholm Syndrome is usually described as a psychological response seen in abducted hostages where they show signs of loyalty to the kidnapper. Titled “How will psychologists describe the iPhone syndrome in the future?” the report begins by saying, “It is no secret that there has been a great deal of hype surrounding the iPhone and it is also no secret that Apple probably has the most loyal and fantastic customers in the world.” Strand Consult continues by suggesting that iPhone users are blindly “defending” the product, “despite the shortcomings and limitations of both past and present versions of the iPhone.” Softpedia note Although some may disagree, we’d say Strand may have something here. That doesn’t make Apple, or the iPhone bad.

No one said they were perfect. OK, let’s move on and see if we can continue to agree with its analysis. “Apple has launched a beautiful phone with a fantastic user interface that has had a number of technological shortcomings that many iPhone users have accepted and defended, despite those shortcomings resulting in limitations in iPhone users’ daily lives,” the report reads. “When we examine the iPhone users’ arguments defending the iPhone, it reminds us of the famous Stockholm Syndrome – a term that was invented by psychologists after a hostage drama in Stockholm,” Strand boldly states. “Here hostages reacted to the psychological pressure they were experiencing, by defending the people that had held them hostage for 6 days,” it says. Softpedia note Does this sound a bit stretched? Maybe... Or maybe not! The syndrome is named after the Norrmalmstorg robbery of Kreditbanken at Norrmalmstorg in Stockholm (just so everyone is on the same level here), in which the bank robbers held bank employees hostage for six days. This happened in ‘73, by the way. As the story goes, the victims became emotionally attached to their captors after they were freed from their six-day ordeal, and even defended them.

There’s a psychological explanation for this, of course. It has been found that, once a person becomes unhappy over a long period of time (kidnapping or hostage-taking situations being the perfect example), that person is faced with resolving what is known as a “cognitive dissonance.” In the case of a kidnapping, it has been found that the victim may begin to identify with the captor(s). Comparing this with the time when people started cheering and throwing their hats in the air as Apple announced that copy / paste and MMS were finally going to be supported in iPhone OS 3.0, we’d say (again) that Strand Consult pretty much nailed it. When Apple made the big (OS 3.0) announcement, other smartphone owners out there were long enjoying these features. Apple was actually able to deliver only when its second iPhone (3G) was out (of course, the iPhone had lots of stuff that other smartphones didn’t, but that’s another story). Naturally, those already hooked on the device could only explode with joy when iPhone OS 3.0 finally arrived with the goods. So, yes, we agree that it makes sense to compare. Do iPhone fans actually suffer from the respective syndrome?

Well, that’s arguable.

Question: Which psychological response is seen in the way some hostages react to their captors?
Answer: Stockholm Syndrome