Obsessed with True Crime?
Wherever you go, there's a new - and successful - book, movie, or series dedicated to true crime. There's also no shortage of true crime podcasts, such as the popular ones like 'Serial,' 'Dr. Death,' 'In the Dark,' and 'Atlanta Monster.' The genre is so popular that Netflix even created a parody of the series 'American Vandal.' Other crime series and documentaries on the streaming service are also very popular. But why are we so obsessed with the true crime genre?
Firstly, it's good to know that there's nothing strange about an obsession with true crime. Of course, there are limits. If you only read about crime, talk about it, and dream about it, then it can be concerning.
Fascination with Dark Sides
The true crime genre gives people a glimpse into the mindset of those who have committed murders. The fascination with good versus evil has always existed in people. Even as children, we are drawn to the tension between good and evil, fostering this fascination from a young age.
As humans, we want to figure out why someone committed a murder, especially since most people would never actually commit one. By exploring this, we gain insight into the psychology of a murderer, partly to learn how to protect ourselves and our loved ones, but also because we are simply fascinated by deviant behavior and the wrong decisions a murderer has made.
Media Feeds Our Fascination
The media also play a significant role in feeding our fascination. Since the 1950s, we have been inundated with all kinds of true crime stories through the media. The fascination for true crime likely blossomed in the 1970s. Due to the many crime stories in the media, our fear and fascination for crime are fueled. Currently, about 25 to 30 percent of the news is about crime, particularly personal crime and murder. Violent crimes against people top the list.
Because Some of Us Are Rubberneckers
Serial killers stimulate people, much like traffic accidents or natural disasters stimulate people. It's terrible to see, but a large part of the population can't look away. Many serial killers only derive satisfaction from the murders if the rest of the world knows exactly what crimes they have committed and how they have been punished. That's also what the public wants to hear: the complete shocking story.
Because It Helps Us Protect Ourselves
Studies on true crime have shown that people unconsciously tend to guard against dangers and threats to protect their own safety. Various studies suggest that more women than men are fascinated by true crime. This is likely because women increase their chances of survival when in a dangerous situation. Women might be more interested than men in crime books with tips on how to defend against an attacker, the motives of a murderer, and especially books with female victims.
Women are generally more fearful of becoming the victim of a serial killer, making such topics more appealing to women. This way, women can prevent a dangerous situation or have a greater chance of survival when encountering a murderer. By learning about murders— who is more likely to be a murderer, how these crimes happen, and who the victims are—we can ensure that we can avoid some dangerous situations.
Despite women generally being more fearful of becoming a victim of a murderer, research indicates that men are four times more likely to be murdered than women. However, women are more often victims of murder by their partners.
Because We're Glad We're Not the Victim
Anyone can become a murder victim. Psychologists say one of the main reasons we're obsessed with true crime is because it gives us the chance to feel relieved that we ourselves are not the victim.
Because We're Glad We're Not the Perpetrator
On the other hand, watching true crime also offers a chance to feel empathy. It allows us to put ourselves in another's shoes and feel compassion. Not always just compassion for the victim, but sometimes also for the perpetrator.
Almost everyone makes statements that, figuratively speaking, they could harm someone. Fortunately, almost no one actually goes through with the act. When people see in the news that someone has murdered another person, it can also provide a sense of relief that we ourselves have not been the perpetrator and engaged in these gruesome practices.
Because It Gives Us an Adrenaline Rush
Fear and suspense give us an adrenaline rush. This makes true crime have an addictive effect. This is comparable to the adrenaline we feel in our bodies when we're on a roller coaster. The euphoric effect of true crime on human emotions is similar to this.
The Challenge of Solving the Mystery
Many people love puzzles, and true crime series and podcasts sharpen our brains. By following a crime series, we can feel like detectives and see if we can figure out who the perpetrator is before the police or FBI catch the actual perpetrator. Most crime series, books, or films are set up as a kind of puzzle, with the viewer feeling the challenge of solving the mystery. This is a brain challenge, and solving the mystery provides satisfaction.
Because We Like to Be Scared in a Controlled Way
Furthermore, people often want to feel a certain form of fear in a controlled way. This allows us to feel tension in a healthy way, where the tension is interesting but not actually dangerous. Adults often find these stories interesting, while these are scary monster stories for children. Stories about serial killers are therefore sometimes called 'fairy tales for adults.' True crime gives people the opportunity to delve into the dark side of humanity, but from a safe environment.
Because Telling Stories Is Good—And Reassuring
If you can tell a true story about real people involved in real dangerous situations, that attracts more interest than when a story is made up. Also, these fictional stories often have the same outcome, making them less interesting. Many true crime shows also have a closed ending. This is done from a commercial perspective, as it plays into our obsession with true crime.
To truly understand why people are obsessed with true crime, you have to look at the bigger picture. In the typical true crime story, it's possible to distinguish between good and bad people. The most important thing is that crimes are ultimately solved. Mysteries have answers, and murderers are punished by the legal system. In a strange way, true crime stories, no matter how gruesome, are comforting. While we live in a world of continuous change, true crime tells people that their long-held ideas about how the world works are still useful.