Jaycee Lee Dugard's Descent into Stockholm Syndrome and Why She Didn't Escape Despite Endless Opportunities

Why didn't Jaycee Lee Dugard escape from Phillip Garrido? Jaycee Lee Dugard had countless chances to literally walk away from Phillip Garrido, but a Stockholm syndrome expert explains in detail why she couldn't bring herself to walk off Phillip Garrido's property. I posed daring questions about Stockholm syndrome and Jaycee Lee Dugard to Dr. Nancy Zarse, associate professor in the Forensic Department, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Zarse has provided training to law enforcement on hostage negotiation, which includes Stockholm syndrome.

Jaycee Lee Dugard case unfolds: Information on how Stockholm syndrome took a stranglehold on Jaycee Lee Dugard is generic and recycled. So my first question to Dr. Zarse pointed out that, according to the annals of child psychology, the first 5-10 years of a child's life are the most critical, during which the groundwork for sense of self is laid out. In Jaycee Lee Dugard's case, the years following her eleventh year were apparently the most critical, since Phillip Garrido had more influence over her psychological development than her own parents.

Dr. Zarse: "I would not agree that the years of captivity for Jaycee Lee Dugard were the most critical in her development. The early years are the formative years, and during that time, Jaycee Lee Dugard reportedly enjoyed a typical development in a loving and stable home. The years of her captivity will, no doubt, be her most traumatic, and will leave an emotional scar, but that is not to say they will erase the early years." Dr. Zarse adds that we don't yet know how Jaycee Lee Dugard "managed to survive emotionally, and whether she used her memories of her parents and early development as a coping strategy."

JH: Jaycee Lee Dugard developed Stockholm syndrome. It's popular belief that Stockholm syndrome will happen to ANYBODY who's held captive. What's the difference between one who develops Stockholm syndrome, and one who does not?

Dr. Zarse: "For Stockholm syndrome to develop, the situation must be characterized by the 'three Ds' -- debility, dependence and dread. Hostages must feel unable to control or escape, feel totally dependent, and regard the situation as dangerous. Based on the resulting vulnerability, they depend on the goodwill of the hostage taker for their very survival.

"Second, hostages and captors must share common experiences, be able to identify human qualities of the other, and share common goals. Lastly, hostages and hostage takers must have some positive contacts. Given the age and vulnerability of Jaycee Lee Dugard, she no doubt felt helpless, dependent and terrified. Although Jaycee Lee Dugard bonded with her hostage taker (Phillip Garrido) to some extent, she was most likely also terrified, threatened and completely helpless.

"It is not uncommon for prisoners of war to share no positive experiences with their captors, to identify no human qualities in them, and to share no common goals, therefore providing no foundation for the development of Stockholm syndrome."

JH: How could have Jaycee Dugard grown to prefer Phillip Garrido over her own loving stepfather? The bond Jaycee developed for Phillip Garrido apparently superseded what bond she had with her parents, yet his treatment of Jaycee Lee Dugard was abominable.

Dr. Zarse: "It requires the 'three Ds,' (plus the other ingredients listed above). There is no sufficient information to suggest Jaycee Lee Dugard felt a bond with her captor greater than with her mother and stepfather; she may have felt too terrified to attempt an escape. It is also possible that Jaycee Lee Dugard's captor threatened to kill her family so her bond with her family was used to control her. "

JH: How does someone develop Stockholm syndrome, when other kids, who are sexually and emotionally abused by their own parents since a much earlier age, never bond with these parents, feel hatred towards them, and often run away from home as young as 14? Wouldn't it be harder for kids born into an abusive environment to run away, versus someone like Jaycee Lee Dugard who, during the first 11 years of her life, had the advantage of a loving, stable home?

Dr. Zarse: "It is not accurate to suggest that physically and sexually abused children do not bond with their abusers. In fact, quite the opposite is often true. While it is true that abused children run away, the circumstances of a hostage situation are different than that of the average abused child. Jaycee Lee Dugard did not attend school or church or extracurricular activities, and she did not have any contact with extended family members or friends; she was completely isolated."

"There seems to be the implication that Jaycee Lee Dugard chose to stay with her captor. First of all, she most likely never perceived such a choice, and merely existed in a state of suspended disbelief. Secondly, the love by and for Jaycee Lee Dugard's family, as well as the sense of herself and her belief in eventual release, may well have been what sustained her in her captivity."

JH: Jaycee Lee Dugard's stepfather stated that, prior to the kidnapping, she'd always been "easygoing," mellow and "never got mad at anyone." How skilled are men like Phillip Garrido at sensing these traits, when seeking out a victim? Was it just hit-and-miss for Phillip Garrido that day? Or did Phillip Garrido actually sense something about Jaycee Dugard that told him she'd be very compliant, subservient and "retrainable"?

Dr. Zarse: "It is common for sexually predatory individuals to target the vulnerable, which include young females. It may have been a spontaneous act of capitalizing on the moment, or he may have planned the attack."

JH: It's said that victims develop Stockholm syndrome in order to "survive." If Jaycee Lee Dugard had not developed Stockholm syndrome, would this have increased the odds of Phillip Garrido killing her?

Dr. Zarse: "There seems to be an assumption that hostages who do not develop Stockholm syndrome will not die -- not so. It may well have been that Jaycee Lee Dugard would have been killed had she not developed some sort of attachment to her captor. And we do not know the circumstances of the physical assaults that Jaycee Lee Dugard most likely suffered (from Phillip Garrido), not to mention the threats against her or her family that were used to manipulate and control her. Her captor is suspected in the murder of 10 people, and Jaycee Dugard and/or her family may have been threatened with the same. It is true some hostages repeatedly attempt escape, but they may be killed as a result. Jaycee Lee Dugard might have demonstrated learned helplessness, but still, she survived."

JH: Though an escape attempt may cost a victim his or her life, an escape attempt can often be made in the captor's absence. In Jaycee Dugard's case, a person within Garrido's backyard could have penetrated its perimeter (fence was about 4 and a half feet high at one section according to photo; man was beside fence) - and gone unnoticed in the middle of the night while Phillip Garrido was asleep.

"Escape" opportunities also existed via e-mail, phone and face-to-face contact with outside people that Jaycee Lee Dugard had; this was also the case with Sean Hornbeck, also a victim of Stockholm syndrome, whose abductor, often gone from the house, permitted him to ride a bike throughout the neighborhood. Thus, an "escape" attempt doesn't have to be dangerous. So what other factors are at work here?

Dr. Zarse: "The captor may have threatened the family of Jaycee Lee Dugard, and/or threatened to come after her and do greater harm upon re-capture. Besides, do not assume a rational and thorough assessment of danger, which is unrealistic in the artificial and heightened emotional state of captivity, especially when compounded, as was the case with Jaycee Lee Dugard, by her tender age and vulnerability."

JH: Are people who are not "people persons," who tend to be critical of others and notice their weaknesses, who don't make friends easily, have a take-charge temperament and hate being dependent upon others, necessarily "immune" to Stockholm syndrome?

Dr. Zarse: "Those with difficult personality characteristics may be less inclined to attach emotionally to their hostage takers and their hostage takers with them, but then again, such people are also at greater risk of injury or death at the hands of their captors. The Stockholm syndrome is about much more than your personality; it is about a totality of conditions and circumstances."

JH: Many children can't even bond with a caretaker who treats them halfway decently. So it seems that not everyone would develop Stockholm syndrome.

Dr. Zarse: "The Stockholm syndrome does not form in every situation. For instance, if the hostages are isolated by their captors, or hooded and gagged, it would be unlikely to form. Also, positive prior relationships may impact the formation and strength of the Stockholm syndrome."

JH: I can't see even MYSELF making someone "bond" with me -- unless I treat them exceptionally well. Many step-parents desperately try to get their step-kids, who are completely dependent upon them, to bond with them, yet fail! - So how does the Stockholm syndrome occur in a situation fraught with sexual abuse?

Dr. Zarse: "There needs to be a number of conditions present for the Stockholm syndrome to develop."

JH: Is it possible that Phillip Garrido HIMSELF could have fallen prey to Stockholm syndrome had somebody kidnapped HIM at some point in his adult life? Is it possible that Jaycee Dugard, if she kidnapped a 12-year-old boy and held him captive, could have brainwashed him into bonding with her? Is it possible that if I kidnapped you -- someone who is well-versed with the mechanics behind the Stockholm syndrome, I could control your mind and make you bond with me? Assume I'm much bigger and stronger. My point is that, must we always assume that the kidnapper has a more powerful mind than the hostage, especially when the hostage is an adult (Manson followers, Patty Hearst, Stockholm, Sweden bank employees)?

Dr. Zarse: Anyone can experience Stockholm syndrome, regardless of age or intelligence. Stockholm syndrome has more to do with the passage of time, the isolation of the hostages and type of contact between hostages and hostage takers. Stockholm syndrome is not about the power of the mind of the hostage taker, but rather about conditions of the situation, such as being completely out of control and unable to flee, being completely dependent upon another, and feeling terrified in the face of severe danger. Do not assume the hostage taker has a more powerful mind; assume the hostage taker has a more manipulative and cunning mind, combined with a narcissistic and entitled personality. Also, many questions about Jaycee Lee Dugard presuppose that the Stockholm syndrome is bad and thus it seems to reflect poorly on her; in reality, Stockholm syndrome is often what keeps hostages alive.

JH: Why don't we see prison inmates developing Stockholm syndrome with guards, and why DO we see children born into abusive homes eagerly moving out as young as 16 - obviously immune to Stockholm syndrome with their parents?

Dr. Zarse: "Inmates are not held hostage; they are incarcerated, and so many of the conditions necessary for the Stockholm syndrome are not present in prison."

JH: The term Stockholm syndrome was coined in 1973 because at the end of being held hostage for only SIX DAYS, bank employees in Sweden resisted rescue, didn't testify against their captors and even raised funds for their legal defense -- a residual Stockholm syndrome. Shall we assume that these employees were the easygoing, compliant, "follow the crowd" type, versus the type who gets angry at people easily and takes pride in doing their own thing rather than following the crowd?

I have a German shepherd. How can I possibly bond with an armed maniac with yellow teeth who's keeping me from seeing my wonderful German shepherd, not to mention my family!? I couldn't even bond with any of the co-workers I worked with all day when I used to work a traditional job. I confess: A man's physical appearance can really be a turn-off to me, so if I were ever taken hostage by an ugly man, there is just NO way I could bond with him for that reason alone.

Dr. Zarse: "The Stockholm syndrome is about much more than the personality type of the captor; there are a number of conditions necessary for it to develop. Further, I caution against the suggestion that we know how we would act in any given situation, particularly a traumatic one."

Dr. Zarse also notes that we need to avoid re-victimizing Jaycee Lee Dugard by "suggesting that her personality or choices led to her extended captivity." We need to blame Phillip Garrido and "place all accountability on him." Jaycee Lee Dugard "needs compassion, sensitivity and professional assistance, not judgment or blame. We need to commend the courage, resilience and inner strength of Jaycee Lee Dugard, and welcome her home with open and loving arms."