The real reasons behind our obsession with true crime

Forget rom-coms and reality TV. Women are now turning to a far darker genre for entertainment – true crime. A study done by Pew Research Centre in the US last year found that not only are the majority of true crime audiences women, but in fact, women are also twice as likely as men to be regular listeners of true crime podcasts. Additionally, according to Spotify’s and Apple Podcasts’ year-end charts for 2023, last year’s top podcasts included several true crime podcasts.

What is true crime?

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, true crime isn’t just about gruesome details of criminal acts. It delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche, exploring the motivations behind such acts and the devastating impact they have on the victims and society. Documentaries about serial killers, and podcasts dissecting unsolved mysteries – these have us sitting on the edge of our seats and leave us wanting more. But, why exactly are we so fascinated by the macabre?

The various formats aid in distancing ourselves from the dark reality

The two most popular formats for this genre are podcasts and documentaries. Personally, I am a major consumer of true crime podcasts – whether I’m working out or doing household chores, you bet I’m listening to Rotten Mango on my AirPods. In an interview with The Telegraph, psychologist Dr Meg Arroll stated the reason why true crime stories are so compelling is their dark nature and as humans, we want to understand it. She also mentioned that they offer us a way to explore the darkness “in a safe way, from a safe distance”. The availability of those stories in several formats creates a safe distance between us and the reality of the crime. For us, if the crime is getting too gruesome, we can easily press pause or turn the TV off. Now, imagine if we were in the shoes of the victims. There’s simply no running away.

We seek to understand the motivations of the criminals

We are all humans, both us and the criminals we hear about in these stories. If you think about it, they were once considered 'normal' in our society. So, what exactly flipped the switch inside them and turned them into the people we fear?

This is something that has always piqued my interest. Through deep dives into the crimes, not only am I able to learn how the crime was committed, but I also gain insight into the criminals’ background, which more often than not hold the reasons for their twisted minds.

According to an interview with The Tab, author Caitlin Rother stated that part of the reason why we want insight into a killer’s psyche is that “we are simply fascinated by aberrant behaviour and the many paths that twisted perceptions can take”. We, as humans, naturally seek to understand the motivations behind such horrible acts. We make it our mission to unravel the twisted paths that lead otherwise normal individuals down that dark road. Particularly for murder, it is a sadistic behaviour so removed from our own desires that it sparks curiosity in us.

We want to learn how to better protect ourselves

Red flags. I’m sure we all have our own list, either from our own experiences or stories we’ve heard. The reason why we look out for them is to protect ourselves from getting hurt. In a similar vein, aren’t we kind of doing the same when it comes to consuming true crime? By delving into the minds of criminals, we glean insights into their motivations and methods. As Dr Arroll explains, “If we can understand the motivation and the backstory, then we do feel that we have more control over our lives and the world in general”. By understanding the criminal mind, we are able to learn and better avoid becoming victims ourselves. Moreover, missing persons’ cases also reveal how seemingly insignificant details – fingerprints on a cab window, or a single strand of hair left behind – can hold immense significance in solving those cases. If you get into a cab in the middle of the night and your friend tells you to leave a strand of hair, don’t scoff. It might be the very thing which saves your life (touch wood!).

Every story is different

Sure, most serial killers may have shown signs of the Macdonald Triad (which posits that animal cruelty, fire setting, and bed wetting in childhood are indicative of future aggression and violent behaviour in adults) when they were younger, but how it manifests in them changes every time.

We can never predict how each criminal will turn out or what crimes they will commit. True crime delves into the intricate tapestry of factors that weave a person’s path towards becoming a criminal. There is no “one-size-fits-all” profile for them and it is precisely this lack of a clear-cut formula that keeps us engaged. This keeps true crime from becoming monotonous as we are constantly challenged to re-evaluate our assumptions about what makes someone commit such horrific acts. I must admit though, the way criminals constantly come up with new ways to invoke fear and terror does scare me at times. Nevertheless, that's not stopping me from getting my daily dose of true crime!

If you’re new to true crime and this sounds like it might be just up your alley, or if you’re simply looking for new podcasts or documentaries, here are some to try out.

True crime podcasts to listen to:

Rotten Mango

Rotten Mango, hosted by Stephanie Soo, explores notorious true-crime cases and sometimes lesser-known criminals. You can find it on YouTube as well.

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, and focuses on delivering well-researched episodes that cover a range of true crime topics.

Serial

Serial is hosted by Sarah Koenig, and in each season, one real-life case is introduced and discussed. The podcast was also awarded a Peabody award in 2015.

True crime documentaries to watch:

What Jennifer Did

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What Jennifer Did explores the case of Jennifer Pan, who orchestrated the murder of her parents. The documentary unravels the tragedy, questioning the seemingly happy life Jennifer portrayed and the motivations behind her actions.

In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal

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In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal dives into the disturbing world of cults in South Korea. The docuseries exposes the dark side of religious manipulation through the true stories of four Korean cult leaders.

Conversations with a Killer

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Conversations with a Killer is an umbrella title for a series of Netflix true-crime documentaries focusing on infamous serial killers. There are currently 3 instalments: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019), The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes (2022) and The John Wayne Gacy Tapes (2022).