Interestingly, some of that goes beyond the cultural boundaries. Some victims of Stockholm Syndrome or of other such psychological after-effects of violent abuse like that will fear authority figures such as police and ambulance crews, no matter where they hail from. Of course, coming from poor countries or countries where human rights are stepped upon certainly doesn't help. Just don't underestimate the power of the abuser -- given enough time, he can convince anyone that the police, social workers, ambulance workers... anyone, really... will react just as violently to the victim as he does. I'm Canadian, born n' bred. I've graduate degrees. I was the poster-child for Stockholm Syndrome after a year in a violent relationship that pretty much left me clinically dead. I believed him. I was convinced that those who were meant to help the public were going to take his side and beat me up just as badly as he did.