Fear or Love: Examining Stockholm Syndrome and the Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping Case

Abstract

Imagine being taken from your home, family, friends and the entire life you once knew by a stranger. Now becoming the victim of constant violent and brutal assaults both physical and sexual. During this you are being denied proper sanitation, shelter, food and water by this very same person. Next imagine caring for this very same person to the extent that when you have an ability to escape and leave you chose not to do so. Does this sound insane? But that is the very essence of Stockholm syndrome. In this thesis I will examine the psychological phenomenon of Stockholm syndrome and how it applies to the kidnapping case of Elizabeth Smart.