Eniola Lasaki
Besties, I’m sure we all remember growing up with Disney classics. From Cinderella to Snow White to Rapunzel.
Welp, the list is quite endless. I want to talk about a classic, in particular, today and how it made us romanticize the trauma of a damsel in distress and embellished with an ironic happy ending.
Beauty and the Beast is more like Beauty and her captor. Everything about this cartoon yelled STOCKHOLM SYNDROME.
Anyways, for those unfamiliar with Stockholm syndrome, it is “a coping mechanism to a captive or abusive situation. People develop positive feelings toward their captors or abusers over time.
This psychological phenomenon prompts the victims to develop an emotional attachment to their captors. However, it is more of a mental and emotional response, than a health condition.
Next, let’s paint a scenario where you rely on someone for food, clothing, and shelter. Now imagine that someone is your abuser or kidnapper. You find yourself helpless. You began to feel protective of or have some level of affection towards the abuser or captor. Nonetheless, there cannot be an IDAN moment in this situation as your survival is paramount.
The causes Of Stockholm Syndrome are:
-The perceived threat to survival
-Show of kindness from a captor
-Isolation from other perspectives
-Perceived inability to escape
Sadly, specific individuals are more at risk than others due to the following factors:
-Personality
-Genetics
-Mental health history
-Situational factors of the crime
Here are some situations where Stockholm Syndrome may come to play
-Abusive relationship
-Toxic workplaces
-Kidnap
Signs to consider in the above situations
-The perception that you aren’t yourself or are doing things that don’t feel like yourself
-Depression and helplessness
-Urges or actual behavior of self-harm
-Feeling that others don’t “understand” your relationship
-Wanting always to defend someone whom others say is hurting you
-Getting angry at friends or loved ones for trying to protect you
-More generally, anxiety, fear, and shame
In addition, a person suffering from Stockholm Syndrome should find psychological support as soon as possible.
Finally, to you who have refused to leave that abusive partner (boyfriend/husband) because he showers you with gifts after battering you may be suffering from Stockholm syndrome and you need to get out and get help FAST!
Bye for now Besties!
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