quaist

What do psychologists make of the extraordinary case of Natascha Kampusch, abducted at 10, deprived of her childhood, and now back in the real world after eight years?

In March 1998, Natascha Kampusch was snatched from a Vienna street as she walked to school.

For eight long years, she was held in a cellar she believed to be rigged with explosives. Her only human contact was with her abductor, Wolfgang Priklopil, who effectively brought her up. He provided her with clothes, food, helped her with her studies. It is not yet clear if he sexually abused her.

But on Wednesday, Natascha escaped. An elderly neighbour of the man she had to call "master" found the 18-year-old, pale and in distress, and called the police. Natascha was soon reunited with her parents.

BBC News - More

This case is so unbelievable. This man stole her youth and propably she will have psychological problems 'til the end of her life.

-Kelly-

I heard about this

Coffee

Yesterday evening, she gave her very first TV Interview. And I must say, from what I have seen, I was very impressed how she spoke and how she was aware of her situation.

She was saying, that her capturer, was following her everywhere. She always had to go in front of him, so that he could see her and that she couldn't run away.

And he also told her, if she would ask someone for help or anything like that, he would kill that person instantly. So she didn't really dare to call for help.

Talking about her flight: she was just running away, with no direction. Jumping over fences into gardens, just to find someone. She rang the bell at one house but noone opened, then she saw, that someone was in the kitchen, so she went to the window and called for help.
But the older woman wouldn't let her in (which is fair enough, nowadays). She called the police and they not even knew about that case..

She also said, that during this 8 years, she couldn't think of anything else but breaking out of that place. That was the only thing, that made her survive.

It's incredible, what she's been through this time.

quaist

Yeah, she's an incredibly strong person. Probably one day she'll be able to live a pretty "normal" life (with flashbacks etc., though).

Kampus fascinates Austrian press

The day after Austrian TV broadcast the first interview with Natascha Kampusch, papers in the country pick over what she said and how she looked.

There is general surprise at how self-assured Ms Kampusch appeared after her eight years in captivity.

The Heute daily is impressed. "Natascha didn't speak like an 18-year old girl. Her words are carefully chosen, and she uses specialist medical terms."

But the paper - which printed a picture of her drying her eyes during the interview - says she also showed her vulnerability.

"The child in her smiles shyly, her expression shows her inner turmoil."

"A small butterfly"

Austria's most popular paper, Die Kronen Zeitung, runs its own interview with Ms Kampusch, with a picture of her smiling.

Marga Swoboda writes about her first meeting with the 18-year-old - "a strong, courageous woman, she has bright, quick eyes, she is small but her raised head makes her big and strong".

But the interviewer also stresses potential problems ahead for Ms Kampusch: "She is full of energy and hungry for the future, but at the same time so fragile that she reminds me of a small butterfly."

A very strong and tough personality is hidden in this tender body
Der Kurier

In common with other dailies, the Kronen Zeitung calls on readers to send their messages of support to Ms Kampusch. It has also set up a bank account for donations to help her on her "difficult journey".

The tabloid Der Kurier asks its readers "What impression did Natascha make on you?" It also runs a selection of comment from the international press.

But its "family-coach" Martina Leibovici-Muehlberger has some words of caution.

"A very strong and tough personality is hidden in this tender body", she writes, and adds "the child in her keeps shining through, now she needs time and loving surroundings to find herself."

The Wiener Zeitung says Ms Kampusch "looked better than many horror stories in the media had led us to believe" and describes her as "pale, but assured and determined".

Tears and laughter

Concern about how Ms Kampusch will cope in the coming weeks and months is reflected in an article in Austria's top-selling quality daily Die Presse.

Is she really as strong as she appears?
Der Standard

Child psychiatrist Johann Zapotoczky writes that the interview came far too early and that she was clearly suffering from great emotional stress.

"She covered her tears with laughter."

The broadsheet Der Standard also reflects this theme. Whilst it says she showed "great strength" in her first interview, the paper's Michael Moeseneder is more sceptical in his commentary.

"Is she really as strong as she appears?" he asks and says Ms Kampusch has now become a "commodity".

He believes there is a real danger that public sympathy could turn against her if she does not behave as Austrians who have donated her money expect her to.

Source

I think a person who's not really strong at all, wouldn't be able to act like Natascha Kampusch did on the interview. Her phrasing is very odd though, she uses the unusual "Mitvergangenheit" (preterite) - would be a bit of a problem in social interactions. But if she's really that strong she made us believe yesterday, she'll make her way. I'm from Austria and watched the interview yester - she's really impressed me!

jalapeno_wildchild

hadn't heard about this. poor girl. i'm glad she got reunited with her parents.

shredtone

The guy was a pretty big sicko. He commited suicide as soon as he knew his goose was cooked. People like him who take advantage of easy targets like childeren deserve to have the book thrown at them. I too was suprised at how well she seemed to be adjusting after 10 years of that. I hope she pulls through and can lead a somewhat normal life.

*Lethe's Bramble*

I'm pretty sure she will. She seems like a very strong young woman and I have confidence in her to make everything for the better.

chicah

She seemed very strong and it looks like she thinks a lot about her future. I don't believe her suppressing her trauma will work, but it's very good that she's able to look forward and see light in the end of the tunnel. Although she could've taken time to look into a fashion magazine after she came back. Just kidding... I guess that's how they dress in Austria.
She seems like a fighter. After all she managed to get out herself.
And it could've been worse, sure, she's been deprived of her childhood and all her teenage years (I feel really sorry for her) but at least from what she's said and medical reports she's not deprived of her virginity, he didn't seem to hurt her physically. Maybe he was just a crazy guy wishing he had a child. :/