How a Failed Bank Robbery Accidentally Created Stockholm Syndrome

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]In 1973, a failed bank robbery in Stockholm accidentally changed psychology forever. Jan Erik Olsson stormed into Kreditbanken with a machine gun, took four hostages, demanded money and his friends release from prison.

[00:00:14]>> [music] >> For six days, Sweden watched the standoff on live television, but something bizarre happened inside that vault. The hostages began defending their captor against police. They trusted Olsson more than their rescuers.

[00:00:28]One hostage even shielded him during the final raid. When it ended, the victims refused [music] to testify against him.

[00:00:35]This strange loyalty gave birth to a term that revolutionized criminal psychology, >> [music] >> Stockholm syndrome.