Maybe this explains why everyone’s so obsessed with the sociopath Penn Badgley plays on “You.”

A new study published in the Journal of Youth Studies last month found that teenagers tend to romanticize certain forms of abuse in relationships. According to researchers, they excuse manipulative behavior because they think it’s inspired by overwhelming love and infatuation.

Researchers at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain, and Universiteit Ghent in Belgium analyzed Spanish online fan forums for a popular European TV drama called “Física o Química,” meaning “Physics or Chemistry” (2008-2011). The show follows a group of high school students and teens, and is known to feature depictions of gender-based violence, teenage sexuality and pregnancy.

For the study, the scientists examined teens’ reactions to a relationship between two main characters, which becomes progressively more violent as the series goes on.

Comments in the forum revealed that participants were inept at identifying verbal and psychological abuse in this relationship until, the scientists wrote, “[emotional] violence became unbearable.”

Previous studies of Spanish teens have found that they don’t regard nonphysical forms of abuse — such as controlling a partner’s time or finances, insults and ultimatums — as acts of violence. Instead, such behaviors are justified as crimes of passion.

The researchers think some romantic tropes in the media may be partially to blame, and hope studies like this will encourage television producers to recognize the weight of their influence — and assume some responsibility.

“We demonstrate that a teen series has the potential to explore and work to prevent gender-based violence. The series provides material for a debate on controversial and provocative representations … providing a discussion [on morals for] its fans’ forum,” reads the report.