They are preparing for something. Scientists explain why people are obsessed with serials about serial killers

In recent years, movies and TV shows chronicling the lives of the most notorious serial killers have become increasingly popular – in the past few years alone, Netflix has released two series about Jeffrey Dahmer and the Night Stalker that have become extremely popular. , writes the Daily Mail.

As with violent video games, the public is somewhat excited by this interest in the lives of serial killers. As a result, Coltan Skrivner, a researcher at the Danish Recreational Fear Lab, decided to shed light on the causes of the obsession with detective shows and their consequences for people.

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According to Scrivner, watching true crime movies and TV shows is basically our way of preparing for situations like these in the real world. Researchers believe that such content is to some extent educational, or at least perceived as educational.

Note that the researchers also conducted a poll among 2,000 fans about the life stories and crimes of real serial killers. The survey showed that 76% of respondents believe that consuming true crime content helps them avoid similar situations in real life.

Scientists suggest that watching such TV shows and movies makes people feel more prepared for such situations. If a similar situation occurs in real life in the future, the person will feel more prepared and will know what to do or not to do.

“Dahmer the Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” was released on September 21, 2022 and instantly hit the top 10 chart on Netflix. The series tells the story of a serial killer who committed multiple crimes between 1978 and 1991. Finally, the criminal and cannibal was beaten to death in prison in 94.

In January 2021, Netflix also released the four-part movie Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer, which tells the story of Richard Ramirez, who goes by the alias Night Stalker. He was a serial killer and rapist who terrorized Los Angeles from 1984 to 1985, committing more than a dozen murders in total. His victims are known to be between the ages of 6 and 82.

Shows like this are instantly popular, but the public is worried that people who immerse themselves in real crimes will be more likely to commit violent crimes. However, there is no evidence in terms of science.

Scrivner points out that there is a difference between being desensitized while watching obscene content on television and being at peace with the uncensored content going on around you. As an argument, he also cites a study on violent games over the past 20 years. The scientists concluded that violent games do not make children more violent. Scrivener believes that watching stories about real murders is the same story – they don’t make a person more cruel, less sympathetic to the victim, empathetic to the murderer, or ready to commit a crime.

At the same time, the survey shows that people are literally obsessed with stories about real killers. For example:

• 75% watch the new version immediately after its release;
• 71% watch the entire series in one sitting;
• 44% admit to having a “favorite” serial killer;
• 67% would welcome the opportunity to interact with killers;
• 71% feel less trustworthy than others because they consume too much crime content.

Still, researchers believe such a hobby is unlikely, even if it has some psychological consequences. Additionally, a 2010 University of Illinois study suggests that women are attracted to true crime programs because they fear being the victim of a serial killer. In fact, women see such content as a kind of “textbook of survival tactics” if they find themselves in the clutches of a serial killer.

Previously Focus He wrote that scientists have debunked the myth that murderer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer was a psychopath.