Why women love vampires

They are rumored to stalk the streets and sewers in the dead of night. They have greasy hair and oily, pale white skin and are masochistic blood lusters. So why do women crave vampires?

This is today's "it" question, as a large number of the female population in the U.S. has been lured into the rebirth of this age-old folklore.

In the last few years, numerous "vampire-themed" books and series have hit the shelves-many that have made the New York Times' best-seller list. But it seems that the literary world is not the only industry trying to get a snap on this commodity. HBO's new series True Blood, an alluring interpretation of Charlaine Harris' Dead Until Dark series, is a hit with both male and females. MTV went as far as to give the entire female fan base of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga Women of the Year award for 2008.

So why are these sadistic creatures getting the best of so many women?

To understand why vampirism is so desirable, there needs to be an understanding of the female psyche. "It all goes back to the ABC theory," said Tuesday Hambraic, a North Lake psychology instructor. She explained that for thousands of years, young women have been told to be polite and fragile. While there isn't a direct problem with being hospitable, most women always have a desire to venture into dangerous territory. More times than not, Hambric said, women are thinking this on a conscious level, which leads to three physical and psychological responses: girls date the good guy and cheat with the bad boy; girls date the bad boys but long for a good guy, or they find a rare but happy medium and get the best of both worlds.

Vampire lore points out that they have just what women need - a man who is suave and charming, as well as bad-to-the-bone.

When asked about vamps, Raven Trimble, 18, said, "They are dangerous, but you know a vampire would never hurt you if he loves you."

On the other hand, HayLee Gill, a freshman at North Lake, blamed this reincarnated obsession on the fact that "Vampires kill everyone and women always want that one guy who will make an exception just for them," she said.

Could it be that women want to change vampires into good creatures? Yes, said Hambric, who divulged that it was the nurturing and compassionate nature of women that could also bring women closer to people who have bad habits that need to be changed.

So why do women love vampires? Let's just say it isn't because of their stalker-esque ways or greasy pale skin, but because they're dangerous creatures.

And girls just might be getting tired of being stuck in comfortable situations.

- Corinne Brown is the Editor-in-Chief of the News-Register.