Lima Syndrome | Vibepedia

Lima syndrome is a rare psychological phenomenon where captors or kidnappers develop a sympathetic bond with their hostages, often leading to a decrease in aggression and an increase in empathy. This phenomenon is named after a 1996 incident in Lima, Peru, where militants took hundreds of hostages at the Japanese ambassador's residence. Despite its rarity, Lima syndrome has been observed in several high-profile cases, including the 1996 incident and a 2011 kidnapping in the Philippines.