Murder Mystery

Why are so many of us drawn to horror, gore, and true crime? Why do we crane our necks to see the scene of a crash on the highway? Psychologist Coltan Scrivner says that our natural morbid curiosity serves a purpose. We talk with Coltan about our fascination with tales of murder and mayhem, and what this tendency reveals about our minds.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

*Why there’s often a surge of interest in scary entertainment after a violent or tragic incident in the real world. 

*The potential evolutionary roots of our curiosity about scary events or violent stories.

*What researchers have found about the impact of scary movies and books on the people who watch them. 

*How horror content can be a vehicle for connecting with other people. 

*What we know about the personality traits of people who are drawn to dark and sinister stories.