Stockholm Syndrome At Work: What It Is, Symptoms, And What To Do
Stockholm syndrome is well known, in which the person has identified with his own aggressor, putting himself in his place, understanding him and justifying the reasons that led him to kidnap him.
This situation can occur not only with victims of kidnappings, but also with victims of physical and psychological abuse, for example within the couple or in the work context.
It may surprise you, but there are people who, despite being treated very inhumanely at their job, do not want to leave it. This is the Stockholm syndrome at work and we will look at it in greater depth below.
Occupational Stockholm syndrome is a condition that occurs when the worker identifies strongly with his job or the company, despite the fact that that same environment is the place where he suffers serious abuse The environment can be extremely stressful, you may have dysfunctional relationships with your boss and colleagues, and your work may not be fairly priced. The person is a victim of psychological and even physical abuse, but still continues to feel identified with the company.
This identification can be so pathological that the victim justifies and consents to the mistreatment received by his superiors and colleagues. It is common that, since the person tolerated the mistreatment shortly after starting to work there, he has internalized and normalized it. As time goes by, she becomes more accustomed to humiliation and may even have stopped seeing it as something negative Based on receiving constant psychological abuse, the person feels that they are worthless, having their self-esteem on the floor and feeling that they deserve to be treated like this.
Occupational Stockholm syndrome is not included in the DSM-5 as a diagnostic criterion per se; however, a series of symptoms or characteristics can be identified in people who suffer from workplace mobbing but do not want to leave their job. job. We can find these symptoms at any age, at any educational level and in any type of worker
Consequences
If you do not leave work on time or go to a psychologist to manage your first symptoms, work-related Stockholm syndrome has serious consequences. As the worker spends more time in the company that mistreats him, he will lose security and self-confidence, in addition to feeling more limited. As his boss and colleagues tell him that he does not have good qualities or is not capable of doing tasks well, his self-esteem is reduced and he feels deeply disgusted with himself.
The person is not able to defend himself against the comments made to him and will not be able to change jobs either , since he strongly identifies with him. She may even justify what they are doing, thinking that she is really worthless and that she deserves what they are doing to her. She may even think that, really, the victims are his boss and colleagues since they have to put up with him at work. His ability to see reality may be so impaired that she no longer knows what is right and what is not.
Employment is not always a source of well-being but, of course, not feeling comfortable in it at all generates great frustration. This frustration can contribute to the worker suffering from psychological disorders, usually anxiety and depression. In addition, other areas of his life will be affected, such as family, friends and partners, who will see that their loved one is suffering but is consenting to being treated badly. Due to psychological discomfort, the victim can psychosomatize, suffering contractures, stomach pains, insomnia…
Over time It is common for people who suffer from occupational Stockholm syndrome to develop learned helplessness The victim becomes accustomed to being manipulated and mistreated, making them truly believe that they have no other way out and that they cannot do anything to change things, nor defend themselves in any way from the contempt and abuse to which they are subjected.
To do?
To overcome the Stockholm syndrome at work, it is necessary, first of all, for the person to become aware that they are being the victim of an unfair situation and that nothing, not even if they lack work qualities, deserves such mistreatment. It is necessary for the victim to identify and recognize the inappropriate conduct to which he or she has been subjected and how they have manipulated her so that she feels identified with the company.
Abuse can manifest itself in multiple ways. Some may be subtle, such as gestures of contempt, not receiving the corresponding salary, not having the benefits established by law or working more hours than they are supposed to. Others may be more obvious, such as disrespectful comments, insults, yelling, constant teasing, threats that you will be fired, or laughing in your face. All these behaviors must be identified and related to the psychological and physical discomfort suffered by the patient.
It is essential to contact psychologists, doctors and psychiatrists. The reason for this is not only to treat the psychological and physical problems associated with the disorder, but to confirm that the patient has this condition due to mistreatment at work. Thus, you have proof that will help a lawyer make the company pay for the damage done. You should also consult with other professionals, especially human resources and union representatives.
If it is not considered necessary to go to court or leave work, the patient can continue working in the same job but establishing personal limits. The psychologist will provide you with strategies to be more assertive, indicating when you do not like being made unpleasant comments or disrespected. Furthermore, in consultation with a union, The interested party must know what their rights are both as a worker and for the simple fact of being a human being and he will have to make them count in his position.
However, if the company does not seem to want to respect our limits, it is best to leave the job, in addition to taking the appropriate legal measures. This is especially recommended when the abuse has been very serious and the person has no guarantee that they will be treated like a human being in their workplace. When changing jobs, you should make sure that what you did at your previous job does not happen again, establishing limits from the beginning and recognizing any signs of abuse.
