Why We’re Drawn to Death, Crime, & Danger - Coltan Scrivner

The Path to Studying Morbid Curiosity

Scrivner's journey into the study of morbid curiosity was not a linear one. While his early interests leaned toward archaeology, anthropology, and forensic science, it was his later switch to psychology that allowed him to focus on the paradoxical human behaviors surrounding violence and fear. He was intrigued by the contradiction that, although society broadly condemns violence as bad, humans also often revel in certain types of violent spectacle—such as the Roman coliseum or modern UFC fights—where violence is celebrated and even revered. This paradox prompted him to ask how individuals make sense of when violence is acceptable and when it is not.

Another equally compelling question he pursued was why humans deliberately scare themselves for enjoyment—finding a thrill in horror movies, haunted houses, or video games that engage fear without real danger. Linking these ideas, Scrivner delved into the broader question of why humans are drawn to threats and dark content in general, seeking to understand what this reveals about our nature, its evolutionary utility, and its role in contemporary life.

Evolutionary Roots of Morbid Curiosity

Scrivner situates morbid curiosity within an evolutionary framework by comparing humans to other animals. Like gazelles that cautiously observe predators such as cheetahs—a behavior called predator inspection—humans use stories, media, and imagination to safely simulate encounters with threats. This ability to create narratives without direct exposure offers a form of "threat learning" without immediate risk, which is highly valuable from a survival perspective.

Moreover, morbid curiosity serves an adaptive function in helping us gather information about potential dangers. Humans' unique capacity for storytelling and imagination allows us to explore threats and learn to navigate them without actual harm. This "sandbox" approach to risky scenarios is intellectually rewarding precisely because it balances the fear response with curiosity in situations where we sense potential danger, but are physically safe.

Dreams further exemplify this function, as many theories suggest that dreaming allows us to rehearse threat scenarios offline. Anthropological studies indicate that threats frequently appear in dreams across cultures, reinforcing the idea that our minds are wired to process and prepare for dangers even while asleep.

Understanding Morbid Curiosity's Domains

To empirically study morbid curiosity, Scrivner developed a scale and identified four distinct but related domains that capture this fascination. The first is direct violence—interest in witnessing violent acts unfold. The second deals with "minds of dangerous people," encompassing a curiosity about the psychology and motivations of criminals, such as those explored in true crime media. The third focuses on the outcomes of violence, specifically bodily injuries and violations, which are crucial in understanding injury mechanisms and survival strategies. Lastly, the supernatural or paranormal domain taps into dangerous unknowns like ghosts, aliens, or occult phenomena—entities that provoke fear due to their ambiguity and perceived malevolence, reflecting humanity's historical attempts to explain mysterious threats.

The common thread across these domains is threat itself—what could harm us, what we know or don't know about it, and how we might mitigate or prepare for it. The positive feeling tied to curiosity motivates approach behaviors even in the presence of fear or disgust, allowing individuals to learn about threats in a controlled manner.

Individual Differences and Personality Factors

Scrivner's research also explores who is more likely to exhibit morbid curiosity. Personality traits explain about half of the variation in morbid curiosity, with psychopathy—particularly rebelliousness—showing the strongest correlation. Surprisingly, traits like disgust sensitivity are less predictive than expected because disgust primarily relates to infectious threats, while much morbid curiosity involves injuries or violence without infection risk. Gender differences are modest; men tend to show greater interest in violence, while women lean toward fascination with dangerous minds, consistent with historical and social factors.

Age influences morbid curiosity as well, with younger individuals showing greater interest. This aligns with evolutionary theory suggesting that youth is a time for active learning about the world's dangers, while older adults generally reduce this drive once familiarity and experience are acquired.

Morbid curiosity also appears to confer psychological resilience, as studies during the COVID-19 pandemic found that morbidly curious individuals were better equipped to handle the stress and uncertainty of that global crisis.

Morbid Attraction and Dark Traits

A striking aspect of morbid curiosity comes from its intersection with sexual attraction, especially regarding fascination with dangerous or "dark triad" personalities. While there is limited difference across sexes in morbid curiosity, women often express interest in men with psychopathic or Machiavellian traits, possibly due to a blend of fear, fascination, and a desire to understand or engage safely with dangerous individuals. This may also relate to evolutionary dynamics involving high-status, powerful figures who can serve as protectors or allies, despite their threat potential.

Fans of serial killers and "bad boys" reflect this paradox, where fascination coexists with caution, and interest is often more about understanding affinity than genuine warmth or romantic desire.

Cultural Expressions and Media

The conversation delves into the cultural forms through which morbid curiosity expresses itself. True crime media tends to attract a predominantly female audience, with stories focusing on personal violence relevant to their lived experiences. Men gravitate toward violent encounters more closely associated with intergroup conflict and war, reflecting traditional gendered experiences of violence.

Children's play, such as games like Mafia or Werewolf, demonstrates early expressions of morbid curiosity in controlled, imaginative scenarios where they wrestle with themes of trust, deception, danger, and justice. This mirrors adult interests in narratives involving violence, betrayal, and survival but transmuted into safe, playful contexts.

The rise of police body cam footage and other real-world violent content accessible through social media and YouTube exemplifies modern morbid curiosity's expansion, providing ambiguous, real-time glimpses into danger and conflict. This ambiguity—what truly happened, who was at fault—fuels the fascination as viewers attempt to make sense of threats from multiple perspectives.

The Anatomy of Horror and Scare Tactics

Scrivner also discusses horror as a genre specifically designed to engage morbid curiosity. Unlike other genres, horror typically features a vulnerable protagonist facing a powerful, often malevolent antagonist, placing viewers in the position of empathizing deeply with someone threatened by overwhelming danger. This narrative structure resonates because it reflects primal threat dynamics, blending fear and fascination.

Zombie movies stand out as a unique subgenre embodying all four domains of morbid curiosity simultaneously: violence, dangerous minds, bodily violations, and the supernatural. This comprehensive engagement explains their broad appeal and substantial commercial success.

On a technical level, the podcast touches on an intriguing filmmaking principle called "monster enters left," whereby horror filmmakers intentionally place scares or surprises on the left side of the screen to exploit neurological biases in attention and perception. This tactic maximizes surprise and emotional impact by leveraging how our brains process visual information asymmetrically.

Effects of Exposure and Empathy

Addressing concerns about violent media's effects, Scrivner notes that horror fans are not less empathetic than others. In fact, empathizing with the vulnerable protagonist is essential to enjoying horror, as the emotional engagement drives the thrill and catharsis. This challenges stereotypes that horror viewers are callous or disturbed, reminding us that morbid curiosity often coexists with deep emotional sensitivity.

Regarding concerns about growing exposure to violent images in the digital age, Scrivner points out that true longitudinal studies are rare due to rapid technological changes. However, he emphasizes that while access to violent content is greater than ever, overall societal violence in many parts of the world, including the U.S., has decreased, presenting a complex interplay between real-world risk and mediated exposure.

Conclusion

Scrivner's research illuminates morbid curiosity as a deeply ingrained, multifunctional aspect of human psychology that balances fear, disgust, and fascination to help us understand and prepare for dangers in both physical and social realms. Far from being a pathological anomaly, morbid curiosity plays a vital role in learning, threat assessment, and emotional processing, revealing why humans are drawn to death, crime, and danger across media, culture, and time.