**Clark Olofsson, Notorious Figure Behind 'Stockholm Syndrome', Passes Away at 78**

**Clark Olofsson, whose actions led to the creation of the term "Stockholm syndrome," has died after a prolonged illness. His notorious involvement in a 1973 bank siege forever altered the landscape of criminal psychology.**

One of the central figures in the infamous incident that birthed the term "Stockholm syndrome" has died at 78, according to his family. Clark Olofsson, who gained international fame in 1973 after orchestrating a dramatic bank robbery in Sweden’s capital with a fellow criminal, passed away following a lengthy illness, as reported by the media outlet Dagens ETC.

During the gripping six-day standoff, hostages developed a surprising bond with Olofsson and his accomplice, Jan-Erik Olsson, ultimately side-lining the feelings of the police who were attempting to resolve the situation. This unusual behavior led to the formulation of a psychological theory where victims exhibit affection towards their captors, now commonly referred to as Stockholm syndrome.

The dramatic bank heist was initiated by Olsson, who, after taking hostages, insisted that Olofsson be brought to the scene from prison. Authorities complied, and Olofsson arrived amidst a police blockade. In a later interview, Olofsson claimed he was misled by authorities regarding a potential inside man role intended to safeguard the hostages, a deal that he felt was ignored.

One of the captives, Kristin Enmark, notably conveyed her trust in Olofsson, even pleading with the Swedish prime minister to let her leave with the robbers, assuring him: "I fully trust Clark and the robber... They haven't done a thing to us." Enmark later reflected in her memoir on her harrowing experience, expressing her decision to rely on Olofsson's promises for her safety at the tender age of 23.

The ordeal concluded after six days when police managed to breach the bank with tear gas and apprehend Olofsson and Olsson. Remarkably, many former hostages resisted cooperating with the authorities to prosecute the captors out of fear for their own and the captors’ safety.

Scholars have long debated the validity of Stockholm syndrome as a psychiatric condition. The term was adopted by criminologist Nils Bejerot post-siege, to capture the essence of hostages' unexpected affection for their captors. The phenomenon surged into public consciousness in 1974 when media heiress Patty Hearst was kidnapped by a radical group and supposedly developed feelings for her captors.

Speaking on BBC's Sideways podcast in 2021, Enmark firmly dismissed the notion of Stockholm syndrome, arguing it unfairly shifts blame onto victims, saying, “I did what I could to survive.”

Olofsson was a repeated offender throughout his life, spending considerable time behind bars. His most recent release occurred in 2018 after serving a drug-related sentence in Belgium. In 2022, he gained renewed attention when actor Bill Skarsgård depicted him in the Netflix series "Clark."