Why Do Women Fall for Killers? The Science Behind Hybristophilia

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of real criminal cases, including details that may be disturbing to some listeners.

This week’s Side Bar dives into the Phenomenon of Hybristophilia

ABOUT :

Hybristophilia is a psychological phenomenon in which someone experiences attraction to another person who has committed violent or criminal acts. Often referred to as “Bonnie and Clyde Syndrome,” it can appear in mild forms—such as fascination with dangerous individuals—or more extreme forms where people actively pursue relationships with offenders, including those in prison. This attraction is usually tied to deeper psychological needs, like a desire to “save” or “fix” someone, a fascination with power, or the thrill of danger from a safe distance. While often sensationalized in true crime media, hybristophilia is complex and rooted in emotional, relational, and sometimes trauma-related dynamics.

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WELCOME TO SIDE BAR — a spirited spinoff of Criminal Appeal, where host Dr. Casey Jordan and co-host Dr. Colleen Butler-Sweet take their conversations from the courtroom to the cocktail bar. In these quick, 15-minute episodes, the co-hosts unwind over drinks, sharing candid takes on justice, behavior, and the stories that didn’t make it into the main show.

🗓️Release Schedule : Side Bar episodes drop biweekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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This episode enjoyed Prisoner Wine

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