An expert weighs in on whether or not introversion protects against Stockholm syndrome.
It’s fair to assume that introverts have a built-in protection against Stockholm syndrome, while extroverts are more vulnerable to forming an emotional alliance with the very person who has abducted them.
“Some people are just naturally more introverted, which may not be a reflection upon their level of self-esteem or interpersonal maturity,” says David M. Reiss, MD, a psychiatrist from San Diego with extensive experience in PTSD.
“However, if introversion is a reaction to fear of dependency, fear of interaction with others, or even a fear of the experience of fear this may be a risk factor for reacting dysfunctionally to an abusive situation and perhaps development of Stockholm syndrome.”
Suppose a person, who’s introverted as a result of fearing relationships, is kidnapped and held hostage in a dungeon by their abductor.
That person is now in a situation they can’t escape from, at least initially (bound up).
Their captor is frightening and seems powerful.
The victim then retreats to a very dependant, almost infantile state as a defense or coping mechanism; they were never well-equipped to cope effectively with the normal experience of fear throughout their life.
Thus, to avoid the overwhelming waves of fear while in that dungeon, they take on a dysfunctional and self-defeating approach.
This may be premeditated or developed unconsciously, but this dysfunctional approach and its correlating behaviors are designed to justify their involuntary captivity and torture.
They now, in this state of mind, have reduced their ability to feel fearful, despite being in a dangerous situation.
And by the way, this is NOT the same as staying in the dungeon because you’re convinced that if you attempt an escape, your captor will nab you along the way and kill you.
Stockholm syndrome and Introversion
Dr. Reiss says that with involuntary captivity, “introversion leading to a healthy sense of disengagement from the perpetrator may be protective [against Stockholm syndrome]; but introversion that is actually present in the service of defending against unresolved dependency issues can increase vulnerability” to Stockholm syndrome.
Dr. Reiss has been in private practice 25+ years, specializing in adult and adolescent psychiatry, having evaluated and treated over 10,000 patients.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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