Gen Z Hybristophilia: The Role of TikTok in Young Women’s Attraction to Deviant Men

This research explores hybristophilia (an individual’s sexual interest in and attraction to those who commit crimes) among Generation Z women, particularly through investigating how Gen Z female users interact with and feel about hybristophilic content and how this content impacts their attraction to offenders. Study 1 involved a content analysis of 66 videos and 91 comments on TikTok, identifying seven main themes: The Halo Effect, ActorOffender Transference, Sympathy, Romance and APD, Protection and Loyalty, “I Can Fix Him”, Gen Z Irony, and Victim Fantasy. Study 2 used a cross-sectional survey with 95 women aged 18-27 to measure exposure to and engagement with hybristophilic content, hybristophilia scores, dark personality traits, and empathy levels. The results indicate that participants’ engagement with hybristophilic TikTok content positively predicted their hybristophilia scores, which were also predicted by Machiavellianism and psychopathy. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the influence of digital content on young women’s perceptions of offenders, addressing the influence of power dynamics associated with Machiavellianism and psychopathy. Moreover, they provide a solid foundation for future research and clinical practice regarding hybristophilia, with the proposed Hybristophilia Scale being a promising tool for use in clinical settings upon further validation.