Understanding Horse Shoe Restaurant workers via Stockholm Syndrome lenses

By Clive Mutame Siachiyako

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) was at pains grasping Horse Shoe Restaurant [Lusaka] workers’ statements on MUVI TV. The workers questioned the Commission’s findings on their abuse and racism. They stood by their employer. They scorned those trying to ‘fight’ their battle and praised those who spoke favorable of the restaurant. They sounded ‘romantically’ bonded with their employer. That put those who tried to speak for them in a limbo.

What the workers did fits well into the STOCKHOLM SYNDROME. The Stockholm syndrome is like telling an abused spouse to report the matter to police and s/he tells relatives and others that you’re trying to destroy their marriage. They make you look the bad one, a noisy one and overstepping it as s/he is happily married. It’s a bad experience and draining to those intervening.

Simply put, the Stockholm syndrome is where a bond is created between the abused and abuser. The name comes from the bank robbery in Stockholm in 1973. During the robbery, four employees of the Swedish Bank were held captives for six days. When the robbery was botched, the captives felt the bank robbers were CARING, NICE and PROTECTING them from the police that wanted to attack the bank building. They did interviews with different media houses praising the robbers (see www.britannica.com). 

One of the women went further to develop a LEGAL DEFENSE FUND [criminal defense fees] for one of the robbers. She even ENGAGED him. Another example is when a kidnaped wealth newspaper heiress in California helped the kidnappers rob a bank after her hostage. The other is about the capture of three Lebanese from 1985-91 by Islamic militants. The captives when rescued were all over saying they were WELL TREATED although they were chained, and confined in solitary in unclean cells (http://counsellingresource.com).

The Stockholm syndrome is mind game characterized by threats, taunts, scolds, or disparaging remarks to subdue the other person. And ONE ‘NICE’ thing the abuser does to the abused may make them ‘die’ with them. For instance, giving them a meal after all the ordeals will make them feel cared for. Or an additional K100 pay to help calm down public outrage will do. The abuser doesn’t have to do much to win their hearts.

The bond is initially created when the abuser threatens to kill, fire, or harm the abused. But the moment their life is spared or their job assured [e.g. via contract renewal]; that removal is transposed into feelings gratitude towards the oppressor. It’s like you forget about your rights, your worth or laws that protects you. You feel the oppressor is your all.

The HRC thus shouldn’t despair. It’s common for the mistreated to stand for those who mistreat them. Such psychological reactions resulting INCONGRUOUSLY BOND and identifying with abuser and abiding by their agenda and demands are widespread. They happen in marriages, relationships, workplaces, schools and homes. In love terms, you hear the abused spouse saying “whatever the case, I still love him/her; it sounds silly but I want him/her back; s/he has a new boy/girlfriend but I am jealous; etc.”

To others it may seem crazy, senseless, unreasonable, etc. But to those in such situations, they are conditioned. They may get angry with those calling for justice to be done on their issue, they may help the person invade justice or stand in their defense in court, and other myriads of public relations. They can go at length to win public confidence in their abusers for minor favors.

Often three conditions are in place under the Stockholm syndrome. These are asymmetrical power relations; threats; and defenselessness feelings. When there’s uneven power, the powerful one enjoys the jolly ride. S/he commands what happens. You don’t do things as co-managers of a situation. You are simply an implementing tool. S/he does the thinking and authorizes what gets done.

Threats verbally or physical are often used to instill fear and defenselessness in the abused. “You can’t go anywhere. You are nothing without me. You know that I can just make a call and your issue will be thrown out wherever you take it?” Such phrases are typically used. Worse ones are used too. At the end, the oppressed person feels ‘chained’ and obey. When told to go sing praises for the abuser; they will do it with a straight face. When it’s time work 24/7 without additional pay; it will be jokes aside.

Summatively, it’s not the wish of the workers of Horse Shoe to do what we saw on MUVI TV. It’s beyond them. They need our help. The same way we don’t give up on abused spouses the moment they report us to their abusers when we tell them to take the matter to police or court; we have to help others stand out and get the fair deal of life. We shouldn’t mock them nor say it’s their baby to nurse. Psychological defeats have far reaching implications on the victim.

 If you asked those workers, they don’t know what they were saying. One of the workers asked viewers if “they looked abused.” Abuse can in hidden. But that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. We have people dying whilst telling us “THEY ARE HAPPILY MARRIED” until their spouse kills them or they kill them in self-defense. Victims of Stockholm syndrome easily become CONDITIONED TO THE SITUATION due to the emotional intensity of the ordeal.

Those who worship with them, those who live with them, those in love relationships with them and anyone who can reach them either on social media or other platforms; offer a hand to help Stockholm syndrome victims come out of their ordeal. In some cases, the victims become sadists, hurtful, fail to love, fail to appreciate those who are genuinely caring to them and develop ‘love for chains that bind them.’ Psychological conditions are mentally destructive. They call for patience to help the victim heal and walk with their head high. Tomorrow it could be you.