Legacy of the Infamous 'Stockholm Syndrome' Criminal Clark Oloffson Passes Away at 78

Clark Oloffson, the criminal whose actions sparked a psychological theory, rose to fame during a 1973 bank robbery in Sweden that captured global attention.

Clark Oloffson, one of the two key figures whose actions during a 1973 hostage situation led to the coining of the term "Stockholm syndrome," has died at the age of 78. His family shared the news of his passing, which followed a long-term illness, through the Swedish media outlet Dagens ETC.

Oloffson gained infamy during a six-day standoff in Stockholm, where hostages began to bond with him and his companion, Jan-Erik Olsson. The hostages, ensnared in a tense situation, surprisingly defended their captors and expressed hostility towards the police who surrounded the bank.

The term "Stockholm syndrome" has since been used to describe a psychological phenomenon where victims develop a bond with their captors. This incident revolved around Olsson's initial kidnapping of three women and a man, after which he negotiated for Oloffson—a former jail acquaintance—to join them in the bank.

Oloffson’s involvement proved to be pivotal; he ultimately spoke to a hostage, Kristin Enmark, who relayed her trust in the criminals during negotiations with the Swedish prime minister. Enmark later described her experience in her memoir, detailing how she felt reassured by Oloffson amid the chaos that ensued.

Despite the threatening atmosphere, she maintained that the captors treated her well, stating, “They haven't done a thing to us” and expressing concern for their safety. This relationship led to her reluctance to leave when police intervened and captured Oloffson and Olsson.

The situation ended when law enforcement broke in with tear gas, but the hostages exhibited resistance, fearing for their safety even as they were offered escape. The debate over whether Stockholm syndrome is truly a psychiatric condition continues, with some professionals viewing it as a survival mechanism in traumatic situations.

Nils Bejerot, a Swedish criminologist, first introduced the term in the wake of the incident as attempts were made to understand the emotional dynamics at play between captives and captors. This concept gained further notoriety in 1974 following the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, adding a layer of public intrigue to the psychological implications of hostage situations.

In a 2021 podcast appearance, Enmark challenged the validity of the syndrome, arguing that it unfairly blamed victims for their reactions in dire circumstances.

Oloffson, a repeat offender, spent a significant part of his life incarcerated, only being released from his last sentence in 2018 for drug-related charges. His life story reached a new audience when actor Bill Skarsgård portrayed him in the Netflix series "Clark."