#984 - Colton Scrivner - Why We’re Drawn to Death, Crime, & Danger

Overview

This episode explores the psychology of morbid curiosity, delving into why humans are drawn to dark, violent, or unsettling content. Behavioral scientist Colton Scrivner explains the evolutionary roots of this fascination, its connection to threat learning, and how it manifests in modern media like horror films, true crime, and even zombie movies. The discussion also touches on individual differences in morbid curiosity, gendered preferences for certain types of content, and the societal implications of our growing exposure to violent imagery.

Notable Quotes

- Humans can reap the benefits of predator inspection without having any of the costs. That’s like candy for our minds. – Colton Scrivner, on why we’re drawn to morbid content.

- True crime is just war stories for women, and war stories are true crime for men. – Chris Williamson, on gendered preferences in morbid content.

- A dangerous person is only dangerous to you if they don’t like you. If they like you, they become a huge asset. – Colton Scrivner, on the paradox of attraction to dangerous individuals.

🧠 The Evolutionary Logic of Morbid Curiosity

- Colton Scrivner explains that morbid curiosity stems from an evolutionary need to learn about threats without direct exposure. This mirrors behaviors in animals like gazelles, which observe predators to understand their behavior.

- Humans uniquely leverage storytelling to simulate dangerous scenarios, allowing us to sandbox threats and learn from them safely.

- Dreams, folklore, and even horror films serve as tools for rehearsing and understanding threats, enhancing survival strategies.

🔪 The Four Domains of Morbid Curiosity

- Colton Scrivner identifies four key areas of morbid curiosity:

1. Violence – Interest in witnessing or understanding violent acts.

2. Minds of Dangerous People – Fascination with individuals capable of violence, such as serial killers.

3. Body Violations – Curiosity about injuries and their causes.

4. Supernatural/Paranormal – Interest in threats that are mysterious or poorly understood, like ghosts or aliens.

- Zombie movies uniquely tap into all four domains, making them particularly compelling.

👩‍⚖️ Gendered Preferences in Morbid Content

- Women are more drawn to true crime, likely because it reflects threats they are more likely to encounter (e.g., violence in personal relationships).

- Men gravitate toward war stories and UFC, aligning with historically relevant threats like intergroup violence.

- This gendered interest is evident even in childhood play, with boys engaging in war-like games and girls focusing on nurturing or relational dynamics.

🎥 The Anatomy of Horror and Its Appeal

- Horror films are defined by the dynamic between a highly formidable antagonist and a vulnerable protagonist, creating an archetypal underdog story.

- Jump scares and cinematic techniques, like the monster enters left trope, exploit cognitive biases to heighten fear.

- Empathy plays a critical role in enjoying horror; viewers must connect with the protagonist to feel the intended fear or suspense.

📈 Modern Exposure to Violence and Its Implications

- Increased access to violent imagery through media raises questions about desensitization and empathy.

- Contrary to popular belief, horror fans are not less empathetic; their enjoyment stems from their ability to empathize with characters in danger.

- Studies show that morbidly curious individuals demonstrated greater psychological resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that exposure to simulated threats may prepare people for real-world challenges.