Why Are You Obsessed With True Crime?
Explore why some of us find discussions of unsolved crimes and grim real-life murders fascinating.
Do morbid tales of murder, killings and kidnappings grab your interest? Have you ever questioned, whether it is even normal to like true crime?
Don’t worry; your consumption of true crime is not as bizarre and odd as you think. According to psychologist Dr Chivonna Childs, your fascination with true crime stems from your curiosity about the mind of the perpetrator who committed the heinous acts of violence.
As a true crime aficionado, I'm eager to tell you why I, and millions of others, are drawn to the genre. So, in this article, we will learn about true crime, its history, its current impact, why we like it, and its impact on mental health. Let's get started.
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What Is True Crime?
True crime is a non-fictional media genre comprising books, films and podcasts that are based on real crime events. These mediums investigate details about the actions taken by individuals who are either associated with or affected by the said criminal event.
In some cases, it delves into the legal proceedings and criminal trials associated with the act of violence. Previously a small niche, the genre is now nothing short of a global obsession.
How Long Has True Crime Been Around?
True crime accounts date back at least to the 1550s in the United Kingdom when British authors would publish accounts of capital crimes. Between the 1550s and the 1700s, the general public’s literacy increased as did the development of print technologies, allowing for the easy circulation of print crime accounts among consumers.
Crime pamphlets, as they are now known, were six to twenty-four pages long. These pamphlets, which were distributed to the general public, detailed the events of the most heinous crimes of the time. Aside from the print medium, ballads were often used to inform the public about crimes and trial proceedings.
Now that we've covered history, let's look at true crime in the modern era.
The present true crime craze, on the other hand, can be attributed to the hugely popular Netflix docuseries “Making a Murderer” and the infamous podcast “Serial”. While these may appear to be random names, let us examine the magnitude of their popularity.
Making a Murderer follows Steven Avery’s conviction and trial for the 2005 death of Teresa Halbach. The series premiered in 2016 and garnered a whopping 19.3 million views in 35 days. Serial, on the other hand, follows Adnan Syed’s trial and conviction for the murder of Hae Min Lee. The podcast was released in October 2014 and within first the first three months, it was downloaded approximately 40 million times.
Having said that, our consumption of true crime in the modern era differs from that of previous eras. Both Serial and Making a Murderer have had a cultural and societal impact since their premieres. Serial is widely regarded as having revolutionised the podcast industry by introducing it to a new audience, resulting in a growing interest in the entertainment medium. This phenomenon is known as “The Serial Effect”.
In addition to expanding opportunities in the media industry, true crime media helps ordinary people like us learn more about the legal system. It also does an excellent job of highlighting cases of marginalised plaintiffs or victims whose cases otherwise would go unnoticed.
These accounts confirm one thing: our fascination with true crime is not a fad.
Why Are We Interested in True Crime?
Let’s face it, true crime is nothing more than presenting a life-changing event in the lives of a few people as a source of entertainment for others. Despite this, what draws people to true crime?
a. It Stimulates the Imagination and Provides an Adrenaline Rush
We all enjoy a good story, don’t we? Something that captures your attention and transports you to another world. This element of storytelling is what draws us to true crime. The presenters do an outstanding job of presenting information that is both difficult to look at and hear while also being difficult to look away from.
Most shows’ storytelling style is similar to that of a puzzle. You, the listener, don the detective’s hat and investigate the case alongside law enforcement. It engages you and captivates your imagination. Every action taken by those involved, and every syllable spoken is vital information.
You don’t want to be a listener slash detective, who couldn’t solve the puzzle because their attention was diverted by an Instagram reel. You are intellectually stimulated as you solve the case along with the detectives, and you experience a sense of accomplishment because you worked to bring justice to the victims.
Fear is an extremely powerful emotion that crime entertainment instils in its audience. You will feel a rush of adrenaline as a result of this. When the hormone adrenaline is stimulated, it can have an addictive effect on the brain. True crime allows you to experience horror and fear in the safety of your own home, where the threat is exciting, making you want more.
b. Learn to Survive and Protect Oneself
Who do you believe consumes more true crime, men or women? Women are more likely than men to be drawn to the true-crime genre. This is in contrast to popular belief, which associates men with aggression and topics related to it.
So, given its morbid and gruesome nature, why do women find true crime appealing? Well, the answer is quite surprising. It is for their protection.
According to a study on women’s true crime consumption, women are more afraid of becoming victims of violent crimes than men. As a result, they find crime content appealing because it teaches them the do’s and dont’s if they find themselves in a similar situation.
We have already discussed the narrative style of true crime stories. Women who regularly consume crime entertainment gain insight not only into a person's motivation to kill but also into signs of trouble in an ex-partner or a stranger. Furthermore, survivors’ stories teach women how to survive if they are kidnapped or held captive.
In other words, women who watch true crime are plagued by the thought of “ What if it’s me?” and as a result, they use it to their best to learn survival tips and strategies.
However, the approach does not have to be centred on protecting oneself from a potential crime. Stories that also include the perspectives of bystanders can be useful in obtaining information on how to prevent a crime. According to a recent study, in cases involving mass murders, listeners found the perspective of the bystanders more insightful. This is because it provided them with practical solutions to averting future victimisation.
c. Fascination with the Human Psyche
According to evolutionary psychologist David Buss, murder and killings are a part of human nature and have simply evolved with the times. In a study, he conducted he discovered that 91% of men and 84% of women in his participant pool described an extremely detailed often intense fantasy of committing murders. This is an exceptionally large number.
The statistics call into question our perception of murderers and killers as outcasts when it could be someone we know.
We all, however, have what Sigmund Freud called the “Id”. Essentially, the Id functions as a “moral compass”. It creates a balance within us so that we don’t act primal and are governed by factors such as societal norms, guilt, fear or duty.
Given that murder is a part of human nature, the Id plays an important role in preventing our dark sides from manifesting. While we may experience them briefly when we are blinded by rage or being irrational, this is mostly controlled.
True crime, on the other hand, highlights this primitive side of ourselves. It creates a space in which listeners, despite the virtual distance temporarily identify with those who act on their inner darkness.
Ultimately, it comes down to our inquisitive nature to observe primal human behaviour.
True Crime and Mental Health
While watching a crime documentary or listening to a podcast during your spare time might not be a bad thing, you may have to reconsider your consumption if it has a direct effect on your mental health.
A recent study found people who read crime news were more fearful of crime regardless of actual crime rates. In other words, consuming content that goes into detail about topics of violence may give the impression that crime is just around the corner. Being hypervigilant and alert can be beneficial in a threat or crisis situation, however, experiencing these emotional states on a regular basis can increase overall stress.
Listening to true crime media for an extended period of time is said to activate our sympathetic nervous system. When this system is activated, it produces our stress hormones, which are essential in a situation where one is under threat, thereby helping us face or avoid such a situation. Long-term exposure to this,
according to psychologists, could however have a significant impact on mental health and could also lead to physical health problems.
Gruesome stories can also make us wary and suspicious of others. While they can help you be more aware of your surroundings, they can also make you feel unsafe in places like your home, causing you to double-check your doors and windows. If you feel it has disrupted your routine, it may be time to reconsider your consumption habits.
We looked at the fascinating history of true crime as well as its impact in the modern era in this article. Aside from that, we learned a bit about why we enjoy true crime. Although it can provide hours of entertainment, we must be mindful of its impact on our mental health. When listening to true crime stories it is recommended that you pay attention to how you feel. Give yourself a break if you are anxious, nervous, depressed, or stressed. Consume true crime in moderation, as you would most things.
References Näsi, M., Tanskanen, M., Kivivuori, J., Haara, P., & Reunanen, E. (2020). Crime News Consumption and Fear of Violence: The Role of Traditional Media, Social Media, and Alternative Information Sources. Crime & Delinquency, 67(4), 574–600. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011128720922539 van der Dennen, J. M. (2006). Review essay: The murderer next door: Why the mind is designed to kill. Homicide Studies, 10(4), 320–335. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088767906292645 Vicary, A. M., & Fraley, R. C. (2010). Captured by true crime: Why are women drawn to tales of rape, murder, and serial killers? Social Psychological and Personality Science, 1(1), 81–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550609355486 |