Mind Games

Stockholm Syndrome is among psychology’s most fascinating phenomena. Sometimes referred to as Patty Hearst Syndrome (after the kidnapped and allegedly brainwashed heiress), the designation refers to a prisoner’s peculiar development of loyalty to the captor over time — a loyalty that leads to willingly staying with the captor and, upon release, even defending the captor’s actions. A peculiar case of Stockholm Syndrome was recently seen in the case of Shawn Hornbeck, a kidnapped teen who lived with now-defendant Michael Devlin for four years in suburban St. Louis. Today at 2 p.m., Pulitzer Prize-winner Kristina Sauerwein will speak about and sign copies of her book, Invisible Chains: Shawn Hornbeck and the Kidnapping Case That Shook the Nation, at the Zona Rosa Barnes & Noble (8625 Northwest Prairie View Road). She will discuss why Hornbeck appeared to choose to stay with Devlin and how investigators cracked the case. The event is free; for more information, call 816-587-8180.

Sat., May 31, 2 p.m., 2008