What's the Psychological Appeal of True Crime?

Even though, where I am, you very seldom hear of a day under 80°– even though we are entering November. The leaves beginning to change color have many of us wanting to curl up with a P.S.L. and watch a cute little movie, something light, maybe about a serial killer who terrorizes and kills his victims as though his name were Genghis Khan. It's odd isn't it? We seek entertainment in brutally horrific stories and often we just can't look away. Currently trending on social media is the true crime documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, following two Michigan teens who endure relentless, abusive texts from an anonymous sender — only to have the investigation lead to a shockingly personal culprit. Shortly after its release, it shot up into the Netflix Top 10 and eventually secured the #1 spot.

This got me thinking, why do we even like stories like this? At their core, they're unsettling, inhumane, and sinister... and yet, I eat up every second. As does roughly 84% of the U.S. After some research, I found that the love for true crime comes from an appeal to our very own psychological instincts. So if you've ever been curious as to why you, or someone you know, stays up late at night – glued to the television – watching an axe murderer do his most horrific work (or you just like science), keep reading.

Wired for Crime

The National Center for Biotechnology Information did a study on why people choose to view morbid media, and in what ways we find it rewarding. They found that True Crime stimulates specific parts of the brain, that when kept active, make us feel more productive. Let's get into a little brain science, shall we?

The Inferior Frontal Gyrus- more commonly known as the IFG, is located in the prefrontal cortex; it is responsible for language processing, speech production, and social cognition. If you watch true crime and find yourself saying something like "I don't know, that guy seems fishy. There's something off about him!" that is your IFG talking. Watching true crime can heighten IFG activity because it engages empathy, moral reasoning, and narrative processing — the same systems we use to understand real human behavior.

The Striatum- located deep within the brain's center, the striatum is responsible for reward processing and emotional control. This part of the brain gives us that feeling of anticipation when we are going up the hill of a rollercoaster or waiting for the reveal at the end of a thrilling whodunit. Watching true crime can stimulate the striatum because the brain treats suspense, mystery-solving, and shocking events as rewarding and motivating experiences — part of why people find these stories hard to turn away from.

The Anterior Cingulate Cortex- or the ACC, is located in the medial portion of the frontal lobe. It's your built-in Jiminy Cricket. The ACC is what humans use to differentiate right from wrong. Or more scientifically put: the anterior cingulate cortex is involved in conflict monitoring, emotional regulation, error detection, and decision-making. True crime often presents situations where right and wrong are starkly contrasted, or in which people make morally ambiguous choices. The ACC helps process these conflicts, making viewers mentally evaluate the actions of criminals and victims.

Data Meets Danger

Yeah, so, what on earth does any of that mean? Ava, I'm confused!

Well, when these certain parts of our brain are more active it makes us feel more accomplished and productive, here's how:

Integrated Psych NYC, the mental health clinic of Manhattan, completed a study that showed how we are emotionally driven through true crime. Good news for crime junkies, indulging in this type of media has been noted as a form of intellectual stimulation. The institute writes:

"The challenge of piecing together clues appeals to our problem-solving instincts. This engagement can be rewarding and mentally stimulating, providing a sense of accomplishment. "

Some people play Sudoku to strengthen their left brain, others watch blood-curdling episodes about America's craziest cults. Both, according to science, are valid. Another study performed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that viewers reported feeling a sense of justice when they watched. When the inner workings of a private detective are illustrated on screen, audiences see how truly challenging it is to solve complex cases. Therefore, it leads to a greater sense of liberation/payoff when the criminal is rightfully charged in the end. The study also suggested that we tend to enjoy the pseudo danger of true crime. In reality, there is no threat to our lives when we watch true crime, though with some slight convincing, I'd believe you if you said Ted Bundy was hiding in my closet. The University shared this:

"It’s escapism and entertainment. It speaks to why people go into haunted houses or ride a roller coaster. There’s something about facing danger when it’s not real, it’s not personal."

Frightful Film Recommendations

In short, we enjoy watching true crime because it engages our brain both intellectually and emotionally. If you've ever wondered why your wife keeps you up at night with the sounds of throats being rent asunder, gunshots firing, or victims being disemboweled – don't worry, she's just flexing her prefrontal cortex. And you were worried, silly! As spooky lingers on around us, here are some recommendations if you are looking for some frightful exhilaration this fall.

1. Unkown Number: The High School Catfish: Netflix documentary that follows a teenager and her boyfriend as they are targeted by mysterious, harassing messages over social media. The series unravels the suspense and tension behind the digital attacks, showing how quickly trust and relationships can be tested in the online world.
2. The Perfect Neighbor: gripping Netflix documentary that delves into the 2023 shooting of Ajike Owens, a Black mother, by her white neighbor, Susan Lorincz, in Ocala, Florida. Utilizing police bodycam footage, the film exposes escalating neighborhood tensions and the controversial application of Florida's "stand your ground" law.
3. A Friend of the Family: Peacock miniseries that dramatizes the harrowing true story of Jan Broberg, who was kidnapped twice in the 1970s by a trusted family friend, Robert Berchtold. The series delves into the psychological manipulation and grooming tactics employed by Berchtold, highlighting how he exploited the Broberg family’s trust.
4. Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel: Exploring the mysterious disappearance of Canadian tourist Elisa Lam at Los Angeles' notorious Cecil Hotel in 2013. The series delves into the eerie elevator footage of Lam, the subsequent online conspiracy theories, and the hotel's dark history, including its association with serial killers.
5. Making a Murderer: a compelling Netflix documentary series that chronicles the life of Steven Avery, a Wisconsin man who was wrongfully convicted of sexual assault and later accused of murder. The series delves into the complexities of the American criminal justice system, highlighting issues such as wrongful convictions, police misconduct, and the challenges of post-conviction legal battles.

Whether you’re drawn to the psychological puzzles, the suspenseful twists, or the dark fascination of human behavior, true crime continues to captivate because it challenges, thrills, and rewards our brains in ways few other genres can. This October, as the nights grow longer and the air turns crisp, it’s no wonder we find ourselves glued to screens, bag of chips in hand, embracing the chills from the safety of our couch.