Are you someone who likes to get comfortable on a cold winter night and watch a true crime documentary? Perhaps listen to a podcast? Or read a classic murder mystery? Well, the crime genre seems to be more popular than ever, with bookshops and television schedules stuffed with classic murder mysteries. But why are we so intrigued by these mysteries and their gory details?

 

Sally Baker, Senior Therapist and Media Commentator from ‘Working on the Body’, explained to Metro.co.uk: “It is a natural part of human nature to be morbidly curious about the facts surrounding death and the minutia of a violent or criminal death piques our interest more than any other with a heady mix of equal parts fascination and horror.”

 

BBC Science Focus magazine states ‘Evolutionary psychologists say that we’re drawn to those tales because murder, rape and theft have played a major part in human society since our hunter-gatherer days. It’s in our nature to be highly interested in criminal activities, and that we instinctively want to find the ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘when’ and ‘where’ so we are able to understand what makes criminals tick, and protect ourselves.’

 

However, society’s obsession with true crime isn't a recent one. 

 

The Victorians, infamous for their obsession with death, were fascinated by Jack the Ripper, killer of five women in the district of Whitechapel within the East End of London in 1888. His grisly crimes would be plastered on the front pages of newspapers, for the columns to be read aloud to crowds of individuals who were interested in learning the latest gory details.  

 

Metro points out how in 2020, Statista found that crime (in which true crime is a sub-genre) was the most popular book genre within the UK, with 33% of Brits saying it had been their favourite.

 

But why would you want to read about murder? Well, some people argue that by reading around the topic, you can gain more knowledge about what to do in a dangerous situation. While it isn’t likely that someone is out to murder you, being more aware of potential risks might make you safer. The notorious serial killer Ted Bundy lured his victims to his car by pretending to have a bad arm, and then hit them on the head with a crowbar. Knowledge of criminals’ methods might make you more alert to potential danger.

 

Another benefit is that true crime podcasts can actually help solve some cases. In 2020, a podcast called ‘The Murder Squad’ helped lead to the arrest of a person for a cold case that was 40 years old. 

 

The book ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ is a classic young adult whodunit mystery thriller about a sixth form student who decides to re-investigate a murder in her town. An absolutely enthralling book for lovers of crime, mystery and suspense. 

 

However, although true crime is a fascinating genre, and there's always something out there to listen to and research, it's easy to overindulge, which might have negative effects on your mental state. Sally Baker warns that ‘an excessive amount of exposure to the darkest parts of human depravity can cause you to exhibit symptoms of anxiety.’ It's common that hardcore true crime fans can become paranoid of others and believe they may be bent on harming them.

 

In a weird way, these true crime stories (as horrific as they are) end up being comforting. By a teacher who wishes to remain anonymous, a true crime documentary fan explains “As human beings we can sometimes have a fascination with psychopaths and their story, for it in some way, enables us to feel better about our own lives."