Thats actually false!! People can indeed develop Stockholm Syndrome from people they know, friends, family, partner, etc..
It's a coping mechanism.
It is also a very real phenomenon, although we lack the studies to understand *why* it happens
It's true that the theory remains unproven, but contested or no, we can't just recreate a situation that would cause Stockholm Syndrome to study it since medical ethics are paramount in studies now.
But having experienced it myself from a once loving partner, I can say it is very real. You find yourself just being thankful that they kept you alive when they could have killed you. Thankful that they didn't hurt you more.
It takes years to come out of it... and a lot of therapy. But simply being contested does not make it any less real or valid
It's still a different issue altogether though. Probably closer to a codependency than a Stockholm syndrome.
Stockholm syndrome requires you to be completely captive and unable to leave for a certain amount of time. Also it requires brainwashing. This story has neither of those requirements. Wooyeon isn't trying to brainwash Inseob into thinking he is worthless without him. This story fortunately shows us what all of the characters are thinking the entire time and that why we can accurately say that it's not Stockholm Syndrome.
Based on the thoughts that we see, Inseob seems to have codependency more than anything else.
Sorry. I posted this under the wrong story. So many people claiming Stockholm syndrome on so many series that I thought this was sunder a different series. But the point is still the same.
This is not Stockholm syndrome.
One of the key components of Stockholm syndrome is that the captor and hostage do not know each other. Because of their previous relationship they automatically are exempt from this. Whatever they have, it's definitely something else entirely.
Not to mention that Stockholm Syndrome is already a contested illness because they aren't sure of the validity of it.