Why We Love True Crime: The Psychology Behind the Obsession
Admit it—you’ve probably said, “Just one more episode,” while watching a true crime documentary Past Your Bedtime.
Maybe it’s The Staircase, Making a Murderer, or American Nightmare. Or you’ve gone full podcast mode with My Favorite Murder or Crime Junkie in your earbuds while folding laundry. Maybe you’re more into dramatized retellings—Dahmer, The Act, or The People vs. O.J. Simpson.
Whichever your poison (figuratively speaking), there’s no denying we’re in the golden age of true crime content. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, HBO, Spotify—everyone’s telling stories about real people doing really horrifying things. And we, the audience, are hooked.
But why? Why are so many of us captivated by real stories of murder, manipulation, and mystery?
As a therapist—and as someone whose grandmother got her PhD in psychology by writing a dissertation on a convicted killer she visited on death row—I find the fascination both personal and professionally relevant. So let’s explore what’s really going on in our brains when we binge true crime.
1. True Crime Gives Us a Safe Space to Explore Fear
At its core, true crime taps into one of our most basic instincts: the need to stay alive. Watching or listening to stories about danger and violence gives us the opportunity to engage with fear—but in a controlled setting. You can hit pause, walk away, or turn it off. In that sense, true crime becomes a kind of emotional exposure therapy.
It’s like riding a roller coaster: your body gets the adrenaline rush without the actual threat. For some people, especially those with anxiety, the structured narrative of true crime—where the bad guy is often caught—can feel oddly calming.
2. We’re Wired to Solve Problems and Spot Patterns
Humans are natural pattern-seekers. We want to know why someone did something. What signs were missed? Could this have been prevented? This is especially true if you’ve experienced trauma—many survivors become hyper-aware of red flags and risks as a form of self-protection.
True crime stories feed that craving for understanding and control. They make us feel more informed (“I would never get into that car”), more prepared (“I always share my location”), or even just more curious about human behavior.
3. It's a Way to Process Our Own Anxiety, Safely
We live in a world where random violence and injustice do happen—and many people feel overwhelmed by that reality. True crime gives us a framework to process it. We get a beginning, middle, and end. We get to see justice (sometimes). We get to ask big questions about morality, power, race, class, and gender.
For some, true crime also offers validation—especially for women and marginalized communities. It reflects the real dangers they’ve been taught to fear their entire lives. Watching or listening can feel like a form of vigilance or community-building.
4. We’re Morbidly Curious—and That’s Okay
Let’s just be honest: humans are drawn to the dark and bizarre. The same curiosity that leads kids to ask awkward questions about death also fuels our grown-up desire to understand “how someone could do that.”
As long as that curiosity is handled with compassion for victims and their families, it’s okay to want to learn more about the darkest parts of human behavior. It doesn’t make you creepy or unempathetic. It makes you... well, human.
5. We Might See Pieces of Ourselves in the Story
This doesn’t mean you relate to the killer (hopefully)—but you might relate to the victim, or the family member seeking justice, or the investigator trying to solve the case. These stories often touch on themes of loss, grief, betrayal, survival, and resilience—all very human experiences.
Sometimes people who have experienced trauma find true crime oddly validating. They’re not alone. Their worst fears aren’t irrational. And they’re allowed to want answers.
When True Crime Stops Being Helpful
As a therapist, I want to gently point out that how we engage with true crime matters. If you find yourself feeling constantly anxious, having trouble sleeping, ruminating about worst-case scenarios, or getting emotionally dysregulated, it might be time to take a step back.
Signs that your true crime habit might be hurting more than helping:
Watching or listening right before bed and having nightmares
Obsessively Googling case details and spiraling
Feeling unsafe in places that were previously fine
Heightened mistrust of people around you
Feeling “numb” to real-life violence
If any of that sounds familiar, therapy can help you reconnect with safety, process trauma, and build emotional resilience—without needing to constantly scan for threats.
Therapy for the Curious, the Cautious, and the Crime-Obsessed
You’re not weird for loving true crime. You're curious, thoughtful, and maybe even trying to make sense of a chaotic world. Therapy offers a space to unpack the deeper stuff—whether it’s anxiety, trauma, identity, or just needing to know why people do what they do.
If you’re looking for a therapist who understands fandoms, podcasts, and the real-world emotions these stories stir up, I’d love to connect.
Final Thoughts
True crime is more than just entertainment—it’s a window into the human psyche, into fear, justice, and survival. And while it can be fascinating, it’s also important to stay mindful of how it impacts your mental health.
Whether you’re watching for the psychology, the storytelling, or just the thrill, remember: your curiosity is valid—but so is your need for emotional safety.
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