"Those who liked or repeatedly watched clips glorifying notorious serial killers such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer or fictional villains like Joe Goldberg from Netflix's "You," scored higher for hybristophilia, than those who scrolled past, according to the peer-reviewed research published in the journal Deviant Behavior, the only journal that specifically and exclusively addresses social deviance. The findings also indicate that personality traits like Machiavellianism and psychopathy are strong predictors of these tendencies."
"then surveyed nearly 100 female TikTok users aged 18 to 27, measuring hybristophilia levels, empathy and dark personality traits. As seen in the recent reaction to Healthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione, who has been obsessively idolized online and sent fan mail in prison, the halo effect can play in these killers favor. Conventionally attractive offenders like Mangione often have their crimes minimized, while researchers found comments like "Daddy" or "Smash" commonly used in reference to notorious serial killers."
Analysis of 66 TikToks and 91 comments posted between 2020 and 2024 and a survey of nearly 100 female TikTok users aged 18 to 27 measured hybristophilia, empathy and dark personality traits. Users who liked or repeatedly watched clips glorifying notorious serial killers or fictional villains scored higher for hybristophilia than those who scrolled past. Machiavellianism and psychopathy emerged as strong predictors of hybristophilic tendencies. Conventionally attractive offenders frequently receive minimizing reactions and a halo effect, with sexualized comments such as "Daddy" or "Smash" common. A minority of participants reported victim fantasies, and high-profile idolization occurred online and through prison fan mail.
Read at Fast Company
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