During the custodial stage of a hijacking, male passengers may experience depression, despair and self-hate because they are unable to respond in a heroic fashion to the crisis. This condition is known as:

During the custodial stage of a hijacking, male passengers may experience depression, despair and self-hate because they are unable to respond in a heroic fashion to the crisis. This condition is known as:

• A. Post-traumatic stress disorder
• B. The John Wayne Syndrome
• C. Stockholm Syndrome
• D. The Heroic Delusion

Answer: (B)

This item examines a reaction where a person feels guilt or self-hate for not acting heroically in a crisis. The John Wayne Syndrome captures the idea that some individuals, under the pressure of danger, hold themselves to a masculine “hero” standard and berate themselves when they perceive they failed to meet it. In the custodial stage of a hijacking, such self-blame, depression, and despair can arise from not displaying the heroic response expected by that stereotype, even if there was no realistic chance to intervene effectively. Post-traumatic stress disorder would involve persistent symptoms after the event, not this specific self-judgment about heroic action. Stockholm Syndrome describes developing positive feelings toward the captor, not self-criticism over heroism. The Heroic Delusion would imply a false belief of having acted heroically, which doesn’t fit the described self-hate for not acting heroically.

This item examines a reaction where a person feels guilt or self-hate for not acting heroically in a crisis. The John Wayne Syndrome captures the idea that some individuals, under the pressure of danger, hold themselves to a masculine “hero” standard and berate themselves when they perceive they failed to meet it. In the custodial stage of a hijacking, such self-blame, depression, and despair can arise from not displaying the heroic response expected by that stereotype, even if there was no realistic chance to intervene effectively.

Post-traumatic stress disorder would involve persistent symptoms after the event, not this specific self-judgment about heroic action. Stockholm Syndrome describes developing positive feelings toward the captor, not self-criticism over heroism. The Heroic Delusion would imply a false belief of having acted heroically, which doesn’t fit the described self-hate for not acting heroically.