Can Writers Get Stockholm Syndrome From Their Imaginary Friends?
Of course they can.
What is Stockholm Syndrome?
Stockholm Syndrome, is a psychological condition in which kidnapping victims develop some type of emotional attachment to their captors. This phenomenon can also occur in other situations of abuse or captivity. The name originated from a bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1973, during which the hostages began to sympathize with their captors.
Characteristics
Emotional Bond- Victims develop positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes even defending or supporting them.
Sympathy- The victim might begin to feel that the captor cares for them.
Survival- This syndrome is seen as a psychological survival mechanism where the victim feels a need of security and protection from their captor.
Causes
1 Prolonged captivity or abusive situations.
2 Dependency on the captor for basic needs or inspirations.
3 The perception of kindness shown by the captor, even if it’s not real.
Can writers get Stockholm Syndrome from their imaginary friends?
While Stockholm Syndrome is traditionally associated with hostage situations, the concept of a writer developing an emotional attachment to their imaginary characters is an interesting twist. Though maybe not a formal psychological condition, some writers do experience a sort of attachment or dependence on their characters — particularly when they’ve spent a lot of time developing them.
Fictional “Stockholm Syndrome”
While it’s not a true form of Stockholm Syndrome, this intense bond could be seen as a parallel. Some writers even report feeling reluctant to end a series or write a character’s death, as they’ve grown so attached to their creation.
Effects on Writers
Creative Influence- This attachment might drive a writer to keep returning to certain characters or narratives, even when they had intended to move on.
Emotional Turmoil- Writing emotionally intense scenes or character arcs might cause writers to experience emotions similar to those of their characters, leading to empathy, stress, or even conflict.
Similarities to Reality
Emotional Investment- Writers often feel deeply connected to their characters, especially if they’ve been writing about them for a long time. These characters can feel “alive,” and their emotions or motivations might even influence the writer’s own emotional state.
Dependency- Writers may rely on their characters for inspiration and creativity, forming a psychological bond that could feel like a type of dependency. They might struggle to separate their own identity from the characters they’ve created.
Empathy and Attachment- Just as Stockholm Syndrome involves developing empathy for a captor, writers might find themselves empathizing with their characters, even those with darker traits.
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Don’s a keen observer and prolific reporter of truth, common sense, humor, & life. He’s a WRITER and humorist, sometimes serious, sometimes tongue-in-cheek. He lives in Nashville, TN. He publishes every weekday morning. If you liked this stuff, upgrade to FREE direct delivery to your mailbox by subscribing HERE! You can quit anytime you become nauseous.
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