When does passionate love turn into a dangerous journey? How does human psychology draw the fine line between love and crime? Why do couples like Bonnie and Clyde continue to commit crimes together, and how are they romanticised by society? All these questions are among the important issues that resonate in the depths of psychologyand shed light on the world of crime. The dynamics of criminal couples are not only about breaking the law but also involve many psychological, sociological, and emotional factors. In this article, the role of hybristophilia (sexual and romantic attraction to criminals), attachment theory, and the role of the media in criminal romanticisation will be discussed through the example of Bonnie and Clyde. Be ready to discover at what point love turns into a destructive complicity.
It is both surprising and thought-provoking to observe how such relationships have been normalised in recent times. Today, social media and popular culture continue to romanticise criminal and dangerous relationships. Many people are attracted to the “bad boy” image and find such relationships attractive. However, in real life, these relationships are not what we see in romantic films; they often involve psychological pressure, addiction, and manipulation.
1. Complicity and Attachment Theory
Attachment theory explains how the relationship styles that individuals develop in childhood affect their romantic bonds and decisions in adulthood (Bowlby, 1988). Risky relationships are generally more common among individuals with avoidant or anxious attachment styles. When we look at the relationship dynamics of criminal couples, it is seen that dependent and manipulative attachments play an important role in driving individuals to crime. Admiration for a powerful figure, the search for trust, or the excitement brought by danger can drag the individual into a destructive partnership.
According to John Bowlby‘s attachment theory, early childhood experiences directly affect the relationships the individual establishes in adulthood. In particular, individuals with avoidant and anxious attachment styles are more likely to tend towards insecure and dangerous relationships. In this context, the dynamics between criminal couples are usually based on the intense admiration and dependence of one party on the other. Research shows that individuals, especially those who lack a secure attachment style, tend to rationalise their partners’ behaviours and thus become more prone to crime (Majidova & İpek, 2020). In addition, romantic interest in the offender, called hybristophilia, has been shown to be associated with childhood traumas in many women (Matuszak, 2023).
Partnership in crime cannot be explained solely by emotional ties. Studies reveal that marital and romantic relationships can affect recidivism. In particular, it is seen that individuals who are prone to crime strengthen each other, and such relationships increase crime rates (Van Schellen, Poortman & Nieuwbeerta, 2012). This situation may cause criminal couples to enter a dangerous cycle by motivating each other.
Social media and digital platforms can make manipulative and toxic relationships the norm. Romanticised perspectives such as “He is jealous of me, so he must love me” or “I would do anything for him” can legitimise dangerous bonds such as complicity.
2. Bonnie and Clyde Case
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow… They are one of the first couples that come to mind when a bank robbery or a shootout with the police is mentioned. But what distinguished Bonnie and Clyde from ordinary criminals was not only their story of violence and escape but also the fact that they were heroised by the public…. America, which was struggling with economic difficulties during the Great Depression, began to see this couple, who robbed the rich and challenged the banks, as modern-day Robin Hoods (Matuszak, 2023).
In reality, the story of Bonnie and Clyde was more like a tragedy than a romance novel. Clyde had entered the world of crime at an early age and spent his youth in prison for crimes such as theft and robbery. Bonnie, on the other hand, was a young woman who was interested in literature, wrote poetry, and was drawn into Clyde‘s world in search of adventure. Although their relationship began as a romantic love story, in reality, it was the inevitable downfall of two people who became dependent on each other.
A. Psychological Analysis of the Film
While the film Bonnie and Clyde (1967) deals with the story of this criminal couple in an impressive way, it also offers important points to be examined from psychological and sociological perspectives:
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Character Dynamics: Clyde is a dominant figure who challenges authority and is prone to committing crimes, while Bonnie is a character who wants to escape her boring life and seeks excitement and love.
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Manipulative Attachment: Bonnie becomes a partner in crime step by step due to her admiration for Clyde and gradually enters into a dependent relationship.
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Media Romanticisation: By blending crime with a love story, the film allows the audience to empathise. However, this can lead to the legitimisation of crime and the glamorisation of dangerous individuals (Matuszak, 2023).
3. Conclusion and Recommendations
The Bonnie and Clyde case is one of the most striking examples of how dangerous love can become. When criminal psychology, attachment styles, and media influence are considered together, we can see more clearly how criminal couples are perceived and romanticised in society. However, the real question is: Is dangerous love really love, or is it a romantic illusion of addiction, manipulation, and destructiveness?
Recommendations:
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Relationship Education and Psychological Support: Training programmes should be increased for individuals to learn healthy relationship dynamics. Awareness-raising activities should be carried out on insecure attachment styles and criminal romanticisation.
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Questioning Media Representations: Instead of heroising criminal characters, more objective media content that shows the real consequences of crime should be produced. Critical thinking should be encouraged by improving the media literacy skills of the society.
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Risk Analysis Programmes for Young People: In order to reduce the tendency of young people to engage in dangerous relationships, awareness programmes should be organised, especially for high school and university-aged individuals.
I would like to add my own observation: Recently, we value freedom in our relationships, but sometimes we ignore toxic bonds due to the influence of popular culture. Dangerous relationships are not a romantic story, but often a dead end full of psychological and physical damage. Therefore, it should be a critical point for us to learn healthy relationship dynamics and to understand that true love does not involve manipulation.
Bibliography
- Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base: Parent-child attachment and healthy human development. Basic Books.
- Majidova, F., & İpek, M. (2020). Investigation of the relationship between attachment style and attitude towards marriage. Aydın Health Journal.
- Matuszak, M. (2023). A study on hybristophilia and criminal couples.
- Van Schellen, M., Poortman, A.-R., & Nieuwbeerta, P. (2012). The effects of marriage and romantic relationships on recidivism. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency.
- Kendler, K. S., & Others. (2017). The role of marriage on recidivism. Cambridge University Press.