Stockholm Syndrome, otherwise known as "capture bonding," is a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy, sympathy, and have positive feelings towards their captors. The syndrome was made famous in the 1970s when wealthy heiress Patty Hearst, granddaughter of powerful publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, used it to defend herself in court. She was charged with being a member of the Symbionese Liberation Army and participating with them in a bank robbery. Miss Hearst said she wasn't a full-fledged member of the SLA but did participate willingly in the robbery because she had bonded with her captors as a way to survive with her ego, if not her mentality, intact.  Her defense was unsuccessful and she was given a prison sentence. But lucky Patty: Her sentence was commuted by Pres. Jimmy Carter in 1979. In 2001, Pres. Bill Clinton pardoned her as one of his last acts before leaving office. That's what being the wealthy heiress of a powerful publishing magnate...(Read Full Post)