Why Are We Fascinated by True Crime? Understanding Curiosity, Healing, and Awareness

Introduction

Podcasts, documentaries, Netflix series, and books about true crime have exploded in popularity. According to a 2022 YouGov survey, nearly half of Americans (48%) say they are interested in true crime, with women representing the majority of regular consumers. What might look like “morbid curiosity” on the surface often reflects deeper psychological and social processes.

True crime is not just entertainment. For many, it is a way of understanding human behavior, processing personal experiences of victimization, and staying alert to potential dangers. From a counseling perspective, the fascination with true crime can be seen as a normal, adaptive response to the universal human drive to understand harm, justice, and survival.

True Crime as a Normal Expression of Human Curiosity

Humans are naturally drawn to stories about danger, morality, and survival. True crime provides a structured narrative that lets us explore these themes in a safe setting.

Examples: A podcast episode about a solved homicide allows listeners to examine motives and choices while knowing the danger is distant. Crime documentaries provide both tension and closure, offering psychological safety while exploring frightening realities.

Theories: Psychologists suggest that true crime satisfies a form of “threat simulation theory”—our brains rehearse responses to danger as a way of practicing survival. Evolutionary psychology argues that paying attention to violence historically helped humans detect threats in their environment.

Impact: Consuming true crime can feel unsettling at times, but it is not inherently pathological. Just as people watch horror movies or read thrillers, true crime lets us explore the darker side of humanity within the boundaries of safety. In counseling, it’s important to normalize this curiosity and frame it as part of how humans seek to understand their world.

True Crime as a Way to Process Personal or Secondary Trauma

For survivors of violence, abuse, or crime, true crime can resonate on a personal level. It provides language, validation, and a framework to process experiences that may otherwise feel isolating.

Examples: A survivor of domestic violence might listen to a story about coercive control and recognize patterns they endured, gaining clarity and validation. A person who has lived through a stalking situation may feel understood when a documentary highlights the terror of constant surveillance.

Theories: Trauma psychologists note that survivors often seek “trauma narratives” as a way to integrate their experiences into a coherent story. By engaging with stories of others, they may reduce feelings of isolation and self-blame.

Impact: While some survivors may find true crime triggering, many describe it as empowering. Hearing others’ stories helps them frame their own experiences, often leading to breakthroughs in therapy. Counselors can help clients notice when true crime aids in healing versus when it may exacerbate distress.

True Crime as a Mechanism for Survival Learning

One of the most adaptive aspects of true crime interest is its role in teaching awareness and safety strategies. Listeners and viewers learn not just what went wrong but also how certain dangers might be avoided.

Examples: A series on kidnapping may highlight how a victim escaped by noticing an opportunity. Podcasts about scams or frauds can help people recognize red flags in their own lives. Stories about stalking or digital surveillance often provide insights into safety planning.

Statistics: Research published in Social Psychological and Personality Science (2021) found that women are especially drawn to true crime that includes survival tips—such as how victims escaped or how perpetrators were caught. This suggests that interest is often adaptive rather than voyeuristic.

Impact: Far from being a “morbid obsession,” this interest represents a practical learning tool. Counselors can acknowledge how survivors and community members use true crime as informal education on boundaries, self-protection, and situational awareness.

True Crime as a Source of Justice and Validation

For some, especially those who feel they did not receive justice, true crime can offer a sense of closure or validation by proxy. Seeing perpetrators held accountable—even in other cases—can soothe feelings of helplessness.

Examples: Survivors whose cases were dismissed may find comfort watching a courtroom drama where a perpetrator is convicted. Family members who lost loved ones without legal resolution may feel solidarity when seeing other families achieve justice.

Theories: This aligns with the psychological concept of “vicarious justice”—the relief people feel when observing fairness or accountability, even if not directly related to them. Social learning theory also suggests that witnessing justice reinforces cultural values of accountability and fairness.

Impact: True crime can provide a symbolic form of healing for those who carry unresolved wounds. Counselors should validate this experience, while also supporting clients in processing grief and injustice in personal ways.

Why Women Are the Biggest Consumers of True Crime

Numerous studies have shown that women are the largest audience for true crime. This is not coincidental—women are statistically more likely to experience interpersonal violence.

• 1 in 3 women in the U.S. will experience physical violence by an intimate partner (CDC).

• Women are disproportionately victims of stalking, sexual assault, and domestic homicide.

Theories: Some researchers suggest that women consume true crime stories as a way to anticipate threats, gather survival strategies, and prepare for possible dangers. Others argue it helps women manage anxiety by exploring worst-case scenarios from the safety of their own homes.

Impact: For women, true crime may serve as both a mirror of lived realities and a guide for navigating safety in a world where gender-based violence is common.

When True Crime Can Become Unhealthy

While true crime can be adaptive, it may become harmful if consumed excessively or without boundaries. Signs that interest has crossed into distress include:

• Frequent nightmares or intrusive thoughts after watching/listening.

• Heightened anxiety or avoidance of daily life due to perceived danger.

• Using true crime exclusively as a coping mechanism rather than seeking support.

Counselors can help clients balance their curiosity with self-care, encouraging moderation and awareness of personal triggers.

Counseling and Psychotherapy Perspectives

Normalizing Curiosity

Therapists can affirm that interest in true crime is not inherently “morbid” but reflects natural human curiosity about behavior, justice, and survival.

Processing Trauma

For survivors, true crime stories can provide language for personal experiences. Counselors can use this as a starting point for deeper exploration.

Building Resilience

Counselors can highlight how survivors are drawn to stories of strength, justice, and survival—helping them reframe their interest as part of their resilience.

Safety and Boundaries

Clients may need help setting healthy limits on consumption, especially if content increases anxiety or triggers trauma responses.

Statistics and Emerging Theories

• Podcast Industry Insights (2023): True crime is the #1 most popular podcast genre in the U.S., with over 24% of listeners naming it as their favorite.

• YouGov Poll (2022): Nearly 50% of Americans enjoy true crime, with women twice as likely as men to prefer it.

• Emerging Theories:

  • Threat Simulation Theory: True crime acts as mental rehearsal for danger.

  • Survivor Solidarity Theory: Survivors consume true crime to find validation and community.

  • Vicarious Justice Theory: Observing justice in others’ cases helps restore belief in fairness.

These theories show that true crime is not only entertainment but also deeply tied to psychology, survival, and healing.

Resources for Those Impacted by Violence

If you are drawn to true crime because of personal experiences with violence or injustice, support is available:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

• National Center for Victims of Crime: https://victimsofcrime.org

• Local counseling services and trauma specialists (search by county or state)

Conclusion: True Crime as Curiosity, Healing, and Awareness

The fascination with true crime is often misunderstood as morbid or voyeuristic. In reality, it is a natural manifestation of human curiosity, a tool for survivors to process experiences, and an adaptive way to rehearse survival strategies. For those who have faced injustice, it can even serve as a form of healing through vicarious justice.

At Wellness Solutions, we recognize that the interest in true crime is tied to deeper questions of safety, resilience, and understanding. Through counseling, survivors and curious minds alike can explore these interests in a way that promotes healing, empowerment, and awareness.