Stockholm Syndrome-sympathy for captors

Stockholm syndrome – it is a psychological response sometimes seen in an abducted hostage, in which the hostage develops signs of sympathy for the captor, regardless of the risk in which the hostage has been placed.

Fact : The syndrome was first observed after a bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, in which the bank robbers held bank employees hostage in the bank’s vaults from August 23 to August 28 in 1973. In this case, the victims became emotionally attached to their captors, and even defended them after they were freed from their six-day ordeal, refusing to testify against them. Later, after the gang was arrested and sentenced to jail, one of them married a woman who had been his hostage.The term “Stockholm syndrome” was coined by the criminologist and psychiatrist Nils Bejerot, using the term in a news broadcast. It was originally defined by psychiatrist Frank Ochberg to aid the management of hostage situations.

A famous example of Stockholm syndrome : story of Patty Hearst, a millionaire’s daughter who was kidnapped in 1974, seemed to develop sympathy with her captors, and later took part in a robbery they were orchestrating.

Many Hollywood and bollywood movies have also been written on the basis of this syndrome. This includes :Stockholm Syndrome, The Chase, Bandits, Kidnap(where the end shows that Sanjay Dutt‘s family understands Imraan khan and his decision of abducting MInisha Lamba). The movie ‘Tathastu’ starring Sanjay Dutt also shows some similar syndrome in the hostages when they know that Sanjay Dutt has abducted them to save his son who requires a heart transplant surgery.

Reason : sometimes hostages empathize with the cause & purpose behind their abduction and captivation and gets moved by their problems.The constant thought to their problems during captivation (during which their mind is in constant stress, anxiety & fear and has nothing to do else) becomes vulnerable to such thoughts and incorporate sympathy for their captors.

-Satyagni

twins born in a gap of 11 days!

A genealogist was studying a piece of record to find out the lineage of Sir Robert Attenborough – ex-mayor – attherstone town council - Warwickshire county.He was called to search for any information regarding Robert’skinship, lineage and ancestors.

Robert had lost his parents at an early age.Although he was from a family of knights (the family-title ‘Sir’ transfers to next to kin) , he was brought up by a couple from neighbourhood. An year later, when his aunt died, the couple had little knowledge about Robert’s distant relatives.Now in his early sixties, with no descendant ahead, he wants to find his distant relatives to pass on his wealth and family title.        

The genealogist’s face showed signs of astonishment at the piece of record he was studying now in the central council library of attenborough.

“twins born in a gap of 15 DAYS.This is ridiculous.A misprint in record and a mishap for me.”

He checked other records for twin brothers: Allan and Joe Attenborough-Robert’s ancestors.The town council’s records showed the same.

Allan : night-2nd september, 1752

Joe : midnight-14th september, 1752

and both were twins.with modern technology, twins come to the world in a difference of a few minutes.In 1750′s,the case might be different but a matter of 11 days can either be a miracle or a simultaneous misprint in records. 

                                                                          *

Science behind such  a weird information is the british calender of 1752. September of 1752 had just 19 days.11 days from 2nd september to 13th september were missing. It means that year of 1752 had only 355 days! Allan and Joe came to this world in a difference of few minutes.The record hence showed Allan on 2nd sep. night and when Joe got his birth minutes later, it was midnight (in modern terms-passed 00.00) ie next date-14th september.

                                                                          *

This piece of story is completely fictitious.the reason behind narrating this story is the amazing fact that British calender of 1752 had 355 days contrary to 365 of a non-leap year.

Year 1752 was a Leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and a leap year starting on wednesday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar. In the British Empire, it was the only year with 355 days, as September 3 through September 13 were skipped.Britain used to follow the old Julian calender until september 1752, when it decided to leap 11 days to change to Gregorian calender.

Fact : In the Roman Julian Calendar, April used to be the first month of the year; but the Gregorian Calendar observed January as the first month. Even after shifting to the Gregorian Calendar, many people refused to give up old traditions and continued celebrating 1st April as the New Year’s Day. When simple orders didn’t work, the King finally issued a royal dictum which stated that those who celebrated 1st April as the new year’s day would be labelled as fools. From then on, 1st April became April Fool’s Day.

-Satyagni