Hybristophilia is a paraphilia – a condition involving a sex fetish in which a person’s sexual arousal and gratification depend on fantasizing about, and engaging in, sexual behaviour that is atypical – which involves being sexually aroused or attracted to people who have committed an outrage or a gruesome crime. Virtually only women suffer from this condition. The phenomenon is also informally known as “Bonnie and Clyde Syndrome”.
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, sometime between 1932 and 1934
It is believed by some that Bonnie Parker may have had it, with people claiming she was attracted to Clyde Barrow who was a really violent criminal and committed murder. Many of the other gang members said that Bonnie never raised a gun.
In Britain, there is estimated to be at least 100 women engaged to American men on death row. Reasons for the attraction include glamour of notoriety, a like of violence and religious favour (some evangelical Christians who think they can convert criminals).
One case reported was of two Christian Australian sisters who left marriages they were already in and married two violent criminals. One was battered to death with a hammer as soon as he was let out of prison. The other was sent back to jail after he tried to cut off her ear and pull her teeth out with pliers.
Another unusual paraphilia, harpaxophilia, is a sexual attraction to being robbed.
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