“Everybody get down on the floor, let the party begin!“: with these words, Jan Erik OlssonA 32-year-old crime expert broke in on opening safe deposit boxes and explosives. machine gun under the influence narcoticOn a bench in central Stockholm on August 23, 1973. It could have been a scene from La Casa de Papel or many other movies and TV shows that revolved around the robberies, but it was a real situation. From that long hostage take six days, A new concept would emerge: the ‘Stockholm Syndrome’, which became popular all over the world, defined as the positive attitude and even attractiveness that some abducted people can develop towards their abductors, but still continues to spread. controversial for psychiatrists.
Olsson was taken into custody in that robbery. submachine gun point Four bank employees, three women and one man, used two of them as human shields, swung their guns and repeatedly threatened to kill them if they didn’t surrender what they wanted: 3 million Swedish krona, one car and the release of his assistant Clark Olofson one of the most dangerous criminals in the country. Olofsson was 26, robbed a bank, was linked to the murder of a cop, and had escaped from prison twice before. After the alarms were turned off, dozens of agents went to the area. Negotiators, agents and even snipers they entered the scene, but Olsson was not about to give up.
Due to his careless attitude, the authorities initially agreed to both requests, and soon after Olofsson entered the bank. Within minutes, Olofsson had the kidnapping and interviews with the police under control. That’s when this criminal began to show his talents. “He had charisma, he spoke very well” He remembers photographer Bertil Ericsson, who photographed the event at that time. The kidnapping would go on for a long time.
people’s gift
Olofsson’s ability to get along with people was innate, and it was such that even Olsson, who was then under the influence of drugs, guaranteed by owning his presence. Some witnesses say that with the appearance of Olofsson, the context of the abduction really changed. “I thought often about this ridiculous situation we find ourselves in,” recalls one of the hostages.Kristin Enmark, who was 23 at the time and weird behaviour It gave rise to the controversial concept of Stockholm Syndrome. He has described his experiences to date in a book that he assures is necessary. More than 10 years in the ability to pronounce She recounted what had happened because she was ashamed of what she had said during the abduction.
“He promised me nothing would happen, and I decided to believe him,” Olofsson says. To show the police that they were serious, the kidnappers shoot him in the leg One of the hostages and Enmark came to defend their actions. During the week the kidnapping continued, the young woman spoke positively about her kidnappers several times: “I totally trust Clark and the thief. I’m not afraid of them at all, they didn’t do anything to me. They happen a lot. typeDuring a telephone conversation with Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme on the second day of captivity, he came to say: According to the phone records, the hostage came to reassure her that she was more afraid of the actions of the police than of her kidnappers.
On the sixth day, this movie hijacking event came to an end. Police took action, raiding the scene by piercing the roof of the bank and spraying tear gas. Olsson surrendered and the hostages were released. The thieves were tried and jailed, but they became famous. They received letters from many fans, especially Olofsson.
“Neither love nor physical attraction”
There was a psychiatrist on the negotiation team. Nils Bejerot, Analyzing the behavior of robbers and hostages live. It was he who coined the concept of “Stockholm syndrome”, which many of his colleagues objected to, but at first he called it Norrmalmstorg Syndrome, after the square where the kidnapped bank was located. There is strong debate around the concept. There are those who deny it. psychiatric condition.
“Stockholm Syndrome: Psychiatric Diagnosis or Urban Myth?” a psychiatrist and researcher at the Karolinkska Institute. “This is not a psychiatric diagnosis,” objected Christoffer Rahm, author of the article. In cases of extreme pressure, it can be characterized as “a defense mechanism that helps the victim survive”. “Thanks to this positive bond, you somehow come to terms with the situation, which in turn reduces your stress,” Rahm explains.
The concept hides a “gender dimension,” according to Cecilia Åse, professor of Political Science at Stockholm University. Authorities commented on Kristin and other hostages’ statements “in a very sexualized way, cit clouded their minds, as if they were under the influence of a syndrome. This vision was fueled by many rumors, especially about the relationship between Kristin and Clark.
Although they would have an affair later on, there seems to be no indication that their love story began in those days, in August 1973, at the bank. “For me, there was neither love nor physical attraction, she was my chance to survive and protected me from danger. Olsson,” says the woman who inspired the character of “Kicki” in the Netflix series “Clark.” According to Professor Åse, “Stockholm syndrome is a concept invented to hide the lack of government protection”.