Stockholm Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which a person develops a strong emotional bond with their captor, even though the captor may have caused them harm. Parental alienation is a form of psychological abuse in which one parent attempts to undermine the relationship between the other parent and their child. The parent may do this by speaking negatively about the other parent, limiting contact between the child and the other parent, or manipulating the child into believing that the other parent does not care about them.
Stockholm Syndrome can have a significant impact on an alienated child. It can cause the child to develop a strong emotional bond with the alienator, even if the alienator is abusive or neglectful. This bond can lead to feelings of loyalty and protectiveness towards the alienator, and can make it difficult for the child to break away from the relationship. It can also lead to feelings of guilt and shame, as the child may feel responsible for the alienation.
Examples of Stockholm Syndrome
1. Patty Hearst, the granddaughter of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974. After being held captive for several months, she began to sympathize with her captors and even joined them in committing crimes.
2. Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped at the age of 11 and held captive for 18 years. During her captivity, she developed a close bond with her captor and even defended him in court.
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