A forensic psychiatrist has delved into the disturbing reasons behind why some individuals are drawn to psychopaths.
Dr. Sohom Das specializes in working with individuals who have committed violent acts and are believed to have mental health issues. Notably, one of his clients was involved in the horrific act of murdering his own mother and attempting to wear her skin.
Dr. Das is well-versed in the characteristics of psychopaths, yet he emphasizes that not all individuals with psychopathic traits engage in violent behavior. He estimates that as many as one in 20 CEOs might display these traits.
When asked about why some women fall in love with serial killers, Dr. Das provided insight: “Well, first of all, there’s a term for it. So we psychiatrists, we like to sound cleverer than we actually are – we call it hybristophilia.”
He explained, “I think the vast majority of times it’s because the women themselves are quite damaged. They might have experienced abusive relationships, either during their upbringing or with romantic partners. Having been victims of domestic violence, they tend to gravitate towards what is familiar rather than what is safe.”
“But, and here’s the twist, they seek relationships where they can be in control. If you’re in a relationship with a serial killer or a murderer, you can control visits and communications, knowing he isn’t out cheating.”
Dr. Das further elaborated: “I think that’s part of the motivation. There’s also a savior complex at play. For some reason, perhaps due to a lack of nurturing in childhood, they seek to project their deficiencies onto someone else… and attempting to rehabilitate a serial killer is a significant savior complex.”
This phenomenon isn’t just theoretical. Ted Bundy, for instance, was married to Carole Ann Boone while he was in prison, although they had been in a relationship for six years prior.
Similarly, Charles Manson, the notorious cult leader of the ‘Manson Family,’ who orchestrated the murders of nine people in 1969, also experienced this dynamic. In August of that year, Manson directed his followers to commit brutal murders, including that of a pregnant Sharon Tate. Decades later, he married Afton Elaine Burton, a 26-year-old who managed his social media accounts.