What is it about true crime that makes it so hard to look away? It’s like driving past a car crash, you don’t want to stare, but you can’t help yourself.
From podcasts and documentaries to bestselling books and binge worthy TV shows, true crime has become a cultural phenomenon. It’s a genre that captivates millions, drawing us into tales of mystery, deceit, and danger. But why do these dark stories hold such a tight grip on our minds?
The truth is, our love for true crime is not random, it is deeply rooted in who we are as humans. These stories go into some of our most primal instincts, the fear of danger, the need to understand the unknown, and the strange relief that comes from knowing that we are safe. A study conducted by Taylor Orth (2022) reveals that an astounding 72% of American adults consider themselves fans of true crime, with a majority believing that consuming true crime media enhances their understanding of criminal justice and personal safety. Whether it’s uncovering the motive behind a crime or piecing together clues to solve a case, true crime keeps us engaged on a psychological level that few other genres can match.
Let us take a closer look at why true crime has become a global obsession and explore the unique ways it plays on our fears, satisfies our curiosity, and even gives us a small, guilty sense of comfort.
Fear: Facing the Dark Side of Life
True crime goes into one of our most basic emotions which is fear. Stories of murder, kidnapping, and other crimes remind us of the dangers that exist in the world. Psychologists assert that true crime serves as a controlled introduction to fear, allowing individuals to confront threatening scenarios without real-world consequences (Billy Cross, 2024). While it’s unsettling, it can also feel like a way to prepare ourselves.
Watching or listening to these stories can make us feel more aware of potential threats and how to avoid them. It is almost as if a survival instinct is kicking in. We start to think, “What would I do in that situation?” or “How can I stay safe?”. Dr. Amanda Vicary, a psychologist who studies why people are drawn to true crime, says that many women feel empowered by these stories as they often focus on female victims dealing with dangerous situations.
This fear can often feel productive because it helps us imagine ways to protect ourselves, even if the odds of encountering such dangers is very less. Most fans watch true crime out of curiosity, but some do it to prepare for danger. Women are 2.5 times more likely than men to watch for this reason. For some, it pays off since 1 in 3 crime victims who love true crime said it helped them handle the situation better. (Vivint, 2023)
Curiosity: The Desire to Understand
According to surveys done by Vivint (2023), approximately 73% of true crime fans said that curiosity is a primary reason for their engagement with this genre.
Human beings are naturally curious creatures, especially when it comes to things we don’t fully understand. True crime gives us a glimpse into the minds of criminals, the complexity of investigations, and the emotions of those affected by these crimes.
We want to know the “why” behind it all. Why would someone commit such an act? What led to the crime? Could it have been prevented? These stories give us a window into a world most of us will (thankfully) never experience first hand. They allow us to explore the darker side of humanity in a way that feels safe because we are only observing from the outside.
Schadenfreude: A Guilty Sense of Relief
Schadenfreude is a German word that means taking pleasure in someone else’s misfortune. While that might sound harsh, it is not about being cruel, it is more about the sense of relief we feel knowing the bad thing happened to someone else, not us.
A research by Shensheng Wang (2019), have identified three motivators as central to the experience of schadenfreude which are:
- Aggression
- Rivalry
- Justice
This suggests that individuals may feel pleasure when they perceive themselves or their in-group as superior to others who experience misfortune. It is also shown that individuals with lower self esteem are more likely to experience schadenfreude, using it as a coping mechanism to temporarily elevate their self-worth when witnessing the failures of those they envy.
When we hear about a crime, we often think, “That’s awful, but at least it did not happen to me.” It is a strange but natural reaction. True crime reminds us that danger is out there, but it also reassures us that we are safe for now.
Why It’s Okay to Love True Crime
Loving true crime does not make you strange or morbid, it makes you human. These stories appeal to our need to understand the world, prepare for danger, and process emotions in a controlled way. However, it is important to consume them mindfully. Too much true crime can lead to unnecessary anxiety or a skewed view of how dangerous the world really is.
The next time you press play on a true crime podcast or hit “next episode” on a documentary, remember that your interest may be rooted in something natural. True crime is not just entertainment, it is a way to explore the human experience, understand the unknown, and maybe even learn something about yourself along the way.
So go ahead, enjoy the mystery and the intrigue. Just don’t forget to lock your doors tonight.
References
- Popularity and Impact of True Crime Content | Vivint. Vivint. Published June 14, 2023. https://www.vivint.com/resources/article/true-crime-numbers
- Wang S, Lilienfeld SO, Rochat P. Schadenfreude deconstructed and reconstructed: A tripartite motivational model. New Ideas in Psychology. 2019;52:1-11. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2018.09.002
- Cross B, Cross B. Why Women Love True Crime: Exploring the Fascination and Empowerment Behind the Genre. Cold Case Inc. Published December 10, 2024. Accessed January 15, 2025. https://coldcaseinc.com/why-women-are-drawn-to-true-crime-exploring-the-connection-between-fear-empowerment-and-fascination/
- Orth T. Half of Americans enjoy true crime, and more agree it helps solve cold cases | YouGov. today.yougov.com. Published September 14, 2022. https://today.yougov.com/entertainment/articles/43762-half-of-americans-enjoy-true-crime-yougov-poll
- APA PsycNet. psycnet.apa.org. https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0026331
- Cikara M, Fiske ST. Their pain, our pleasure: stereotype content and schadenfreude. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2013;1299(1):52-59. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12179
- Jared S. Why are we fascinated by true crime? | UNC-Chapel Hill. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Published January 11, 2024. https://www.unc.edu/posts/2024/01/11/why-are-we-fascinated-by-true-crime/
- Richards E. True Crime: Insight Into The Human Fascination With The Who-Done-It. Social Science Space. Published July 17, 2023. https://www.socialsciencespace.com/2023/07/true-crime-insight-into-the-human-fascination-with-the-who-done-it/
