History Main / RomanticizedAbuse

* This concept is key to the ''Franchise/{{Hellraiser}}'' movies. Consider some of the following lines...
-->'''Pinhead''': Oh, I will enjoy making you bleed. And I will ''enjoy'' making you enjoy it.\\
'''Pinhead''': Human dreams...such fertile ground for the seeds of torment. You're so ripe, Joey. And it's harvest time. Save your tears. We'll reap your soul slowly. We have centuries to discover the things that make you whimper. You think your nighttime world is closed to me? Your mind is so naked. A book that yearns to be read. A door that begs to be opened.

** Beth essentially ''kidnaps'' a homeless preteen (Carter) she forms a friendship with and forces him into slave labour at the ranch. The kid is treated terribly by everyone, including Beth, [[ParentalSubstitute who he actually gets attached to as a mother figure.]] When Beth realizes this, [[BreakTheirHeartToSaveThem she cruely breaks his heart by telling him he cannot have ''another'' mother, because his is already dead.]] It gets so bad that Carter at one point wants to be put into foster care. None of this is treated as abuse, and Beth and Rip's [[ToughLove treatment of Carter is fully justified as being needed to help him "shape up".]]

** Beth essentially ''kidnaps'' a homeless preteen (Carter) and forces him into slave labour at the ranch. The kid is treated terribly by everyone, including Beth, [[ParentalSubstitute who he actually gets attached to as a mother figure.]] When Beth realizes this, [[BreakTheirHeartToSaveThem she cruely breaks his heart by telling him he cannot have ''another'' mother, because his is already dead.]] It gets so bad that Carter at one point wants to be put into foster care. None of this is treated as abuse, and Beth and Rip's [[ToughLove treatment of Carter is fully justified as being needed to help him "shape up".]]

A stock trait of SuccubiAndIncubi. Compare FriendlyTickleTorture and PowerDynamicsKink for the PG version. Contrast IdealizedSex, since Romanticized Abuse is clearly... well, abusive; however, the sex in these stories tends to drift toward Idealized Sex as the character relationships develop. There can also be some overlap regarding physical safety and such. Contrast SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny. Compare and contrast DestructiveRomance.

* The point of [[FetishizedAbuser Iason's]] use of Riki's [[ShockCollar Pet]] {{R|estrainingBolt}}ing in ''LightNovel/AiNoKusabi'', which takes place in quite a FetishFuelFuture and {{Dystopia}}n CrapsackWorld.

[[folder:Fam Works]]

A stock trait of HornyDevils. Compare FriendlyTickleTorture and PowerDynamicsKink for the PG version. Contrast IdealizedSex, since Romanticized Abuse is clearly... well, abusive; however, the sex in these stories tends to drift toward Idealized Sex as the character relationships develop. There can also be some overlap regarding physical safety and such. Contrast SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny. Compare and contrast DestructiveRomance.

* ''Webcomic/BewareTheVillainess'' is a {{Deconstruction}}: Melissa makes it her mission to protect the female lead of the romance novel [[MediaTransmigration she transmigrated]] into from her four abusive suitors, demonstrating to them time and time again how their irresponsible and creepy behavior is in fact not romantic but horrifying. For instance, one of them is a StalkerWithACrush, and he's [[BalefulPolymorph polymorphed]] into a rabbit and hunted, being told it's for his own protection, to make him realize how he's making his crush feel.

* Bernkastel and Lambdadelta in ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'' take this trope UpToEleven. Being all-powerful witches who will do anything to avoid boredom, a regular "punishment game" for them will involve things like locking each other up at the bottom of a hollow tower, turning all the stars in the sky into diamonds and dropping them, one by one, onto the other one until they are crushed into a pulp.

* The point of [[BastardBoyfriend Iason's]] use of Riki's [[ShockCollar Pet]] {{R|estrainingBolt}}ing in ''LightNovel/AiNoKusabi'', which takes place in quite a FetishFuelFuture and {{Dystopia}}n CrapsackWorld.

# '''Individual''': One character is a FetishizedAbuser. Examples should go on their respective pages unless the abusive character is of unknown gender or is a genderless shapeshifter/alien/whatever. A character who abuses another character outside of a romantic relationship (especially if they make that character into a [[TheWoobie woobie]]) also counts.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIFn0wqZx7Y "Crazy Chicks"]] by Music/KenAshcorp is a FilkSong describing a {{Yandere}}... from the perspective of a guy who finds her murderously possessive antics hot.

# '''Individual''': One character is a BastardGirlfriend or BastardBoyfriend. Examples should go on their respective pages unless the abusive character is of unknown gender or is a genderless shapeshifter/alien/whatever. A character who abuses another character outside of a romantic relationship (especially if they make that character into a [[TheWoobie woobie]]) also counts.

* A lot of people claim that ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' and ''Literature/FiftyShadesOfGrey'' do this. Edward and Bella are less aggressive (stalking, obsession, and abandonment are a thing but still), but Anastasia and Christian are noticeably more abusive (ranging from outright raping to the incorrect use of the BDSM).

# '''Civilization''': The setting is a PlanetOfHats, grim FetishFuelFuture or just a CrapsackWorld that runs on the brutal exploitation of others.

A subtrope of {{Fanservice}}: Sexual abuse ''not'' designed to be sexy & appealing is ''not'' this trope. Compare ''and'' contrast CasualKink as well as SafeSaneAndConsensual, for characters who live out BDSM fantasies ''and'' show the kind of ethical restraint needed in RealLife. Note that abuse played for fetish appeal is rarely played ''only'' for fetish appeal. It is often a mix of fetish appeal, NightmareFuel, FetishRetardant and so on, and the fetish appeal component is sometimes calculated to maximize the horror value depending on what the creators are going for.

* ''Webcomic/BewareTheVillainess'' is a {{Deconstruction}}: Melissa makes it her mission to protect the female lead of the romance novel [[MediaTransmigration she transmigrated]] into from her four abusive suitors, demonstrating to them time and time again how their irresponsible and creepy behavior is in fact not romantic but horrifying. For instance, one of them is a StalkerWithACrush, and he's [[BalefulPolymorph polymorphed]] into a rabbit and hunted, being told its for his own protection, to make him realize how he's making his crush feel.

* ''Film/Passengers2016'': One of the main criticisms against the film. Jim for all intents and purposes [[spoiler: stalks Aurora and then he wakes her up, telling her that her pod malfunctioned and romancing her under that pretense, which from an ethical standpoint makes their sexual relationship akin to rape--no different than if he had kidnapped her while hiding his true identity and then proceeded to woo her without her knowing he was her kidnapper. She understandably calls his action murder after finding out.]] However, it never portrays Jim as having been right in doing this, and he himself says this was wrong. Aurora reacts realistically and nearly kills him over this. It's only after they save the ship together that she finally forgives him. Even so Jim is meant to be the hero and we are meant to root for him and the relationship is supposed to be a story of true love.

* Most novels by the Creator/MarquisDeSade (the guy "sadism" is named after) stays strictly in Romanticized Abuse territory, being about unrestrained sadism rather than [[SafeSaneAndConsensual mutual]] sadomasochism. It's tinged with political satire about how hypocritical, oppressive, and unjust the socioeconomic system really was, but mostly his work is chock full of fetish appeal and AuthorAppeal, and is generally not considered to rise far above the level of pornography.

** In ''Fifty Shades of Grey'', there's the treatment of ''Literature/TessOfTheDUrbervilles'', which is portrayed as a straight romance between Tess and Alec, although this is completely missing the point -- ''Tess Of The d'Urbervilles'' is actually about how Victorian {{double standard}}s and the DefiledForever trope mean that Alec's rape of Tess ruins Tess's life, despite it not being her fault. Alec is less ByronicHero and more DastardlyWhiplash.

** One episode, named "Slaves", revels in the details on how a young Romanian woman has been imprisoned, brainwashed, and used as a sex toy by an American couple. Lots of neatly presented details about the horrors she endured makes for a strange mix of fetish appeal and NauseaFuel. [[spoiler: Surprisingly, the detectives let the wife off the hook in exchange for selling out her husband, in spite of the fact that she murdered the girl's aunt without even informing her husband about it afterward.]]

* "Bed of Nails", by Music/AliceCooper, alludes heavily to a mutually-abusive relationship.

* In the ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' supplement ''Ghouls: Fatal Addiction'', the Camarilla was played straight as this kind of organization. The theme of playing the social structure between Vampires and Ghouls as Romanticized Abuse is hinted in the core rule book as well as many other supplements, but it's much more blatant in "Ghouls". (In this setting, a "ghoul" is a human who drinks vampire blood. The blood makes them superhumanly strong, makes them stop aging, lets them heal faster, and increases their sexual urges, but it also enslaves them under the Vampire's will.)

A stock trait of HornyDevils. Compare FriendlyTickleTorture and PowerDynamicsKink for the PG version. Contrast IdealizedSex, since the Romanticized Abuse is clearly abusive--however, as the stories progress, Romanticized Abuse has a tendency to shift over into becoming IdealizedSex [[BrokenAesop instead]]. There can also be some overlap regarding physical safety and such. Contrast SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny. Compare and contrast DestructiveRomance and PowerDynamicsKink.

!!Examples

* Actually gets [[InvokedTrope invoked]] (and PlayedForLaughs) in ''LightNovel/{{MM}}'' when one of the love interests, Arashiko, gets accused of being a Domestic Abuser. She actually has a phobia of males and reacts violently when touched by one. Her love interest, Taro, ironically happens to be a [[TooKinkyToTorture sadomasochist]], so Arashiko argues that it's just how their relationship is.

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!Examples

The suffering of other people can be appealing, even exciting -- as long as it's all made up, of course. And since there's a market for it, many authors will happily provide works where the main hook is that the characters are made to suffer Romanticized Abuse, or Abuse {{Fanservice}}. This can happen on four levels:

# '''Civilization''': A PlanetOfHats, grim FetishFuelFuture or just a CrapsackWorld that runs on the brutal exploitation of others.
# '''Organization''': A religious cult, criminal network, or even a respectable corporation has a secret (or not-so-secret) ulterior purpose.
# '''Couple''': Two persons in a loving and respectful relationship enjoy torturing a third party -- or even [[SafeSaneAndConsensual each other]].
# '''Individual''': The BastardGirlfriend and BastardBoyfriend. Putting individual characters as example in this supertrope should only be done if the character is of unknown gender or a genderless shapeshifter/alien/whatever. A character that give KickTheDog, MoralEventHorizon (or even ShootTheDog) to another character (especially if they making the character into a [[TheWoobie woobie]]) also works.

Readers who would ''never'' enjoy the sight of horrors committed against real people can often enjoy the suffering of fictional individuals. Many authors, aware of this, will happily give the readers what they want: Romanticized Abuse, or Abuse {{Fanservice}}. This can happen on four levels:

# '''Civilization''': A PlanetOfHats, grim FetishFuelFuture or just a CrapsackWorld.
# '''Organization''': A religious cult, criminal network, or whatever fills the role.
# '''Couple''': A husband and wife or other couple may be sweet and respectful towards each other, sharing their mutual hobby of torturing someone else or [[SafeSaneAndConsensual each other]] if they are more sympathetic.
# '''Individual''': This level is covered by the gendered subtropes BastardGirlfriend and BastardBoyfriend. Putting individual characters as example in the supertrope should only be done if the character is of unknown gender or a genderless shapeshifter/alien/whatever. A character that give KickTheDog, MoralEventHorizon (or even ShootTheDog) to another character (especially if they making the character into a [[TheWoobie woobie]]) also works.

The husband and wife of a Romanticized Abuse couple should normally only be mentioned here in the supertrope--it's redundant to also mention them in the gendered subtropes, ''unless'' they also have individual adventures where they are effectively single or in another relationship with a different dynamic. For individuals who represent a civilization or an organization, it's a matter of whether they act as individuals, as representatives, or both.

** Early Seasons introduce demons, some of who possess attractive female bodies. They are strong, amoral monsters, and the show often either portrays these characters beating up people or outright killing them. The Winchester brothers have no problem smacking them around, often using misogynistic language while they are doing it. In Seasons 4 and 6, the demons Ruby and Meg, both portrayed by very petite women, are tied up and sexually tortured by other demons. It's heavily implied that they didn't mind or even enjoyed it.

** Early Season 13 has Sam captured by an attractive female agent of the British men of letters and her butch female torture technition. Sam is tied up and tortured, taking pride in how much abuse he can take. He's also given a hallucination in which he is having sex with his captor and enjoying it.

** Season 6 has a storyline where Sam [[loses his soul]] and engages in sociopathic behavior. This is portrayed as catnip to the ladies and results in Sam getting laid often. Fans reacted so poorly that the storyline was cut short.

** ''Series/TrueBlood:'' Bill and Sookie's relationship. Bill was sent by the Queen of Louisiana to '''procure''' Sookie for her. To this end, Bill allowed two psychopathic drug addicts to beat her to death so he could use the situation to pretend to play hero, drug her with his blood (which is both a powerful aphrodisiac and a tracking device), and manipulate her emotions and sexual feelings. Even though he ultimately doesn't go through with delivering her to the Queen, he still tried to control Sookie, gaslighted her into believing he had her best interests in mind, and tried to cover up his crimes so Sookie wouldn't find out about them. At one point, he tried to bully Jessica into turning Jason (Sookie's brother) into a vampire without his consent. Overall, Bill has lied to Sookie, betrayed her, manipulated her, and hurt her in ways that many fans considered unforgivable. In spite of this, their relationship still gets romanticized.

* The "four marks" in the ''Literature/AnitaBlake'' stories enable a vampire to turn a person into a "human servant", whether the person wants to be or not. In addition, these marks force the person to fall in love (and in the Anita Blake universe, SexEqualsLove) with the vampire who has, effectively, {{mind rape}}d them. There's no way to break the bond without killing the person, either. So vampires can turn human beings into sex slaves. And they do it with no one punishing them for it. On the contrary, such permanent sex slavery is seen as a good thing.