In this episode of "The Psychology of Your 20s," the host delves into the psychology behind morbid curiosity and the fascination with true crime. She explains morbid curiosity as the tendency to seek information about dangerous, disturbing topics and explores how it can be adaptive, helping individuals understand fear, process danger, and gain a sense of control. The host discusses Dr. Colton Scrivner's morbid curiosity scale, which categorizes different types of morbid interests, and links these interests to various psychological traits. She also addresses the evolutionary perspective, suggesting that morbid curiosity developed as a survival mechanism. The episode further examines why true crime is particularly appealing in one's 20s, the potential dangers of overconsumption leading to desensitization and compassion fatigue, and offers advice on how to balance this interest with maintaining empathy and emotional well-being. The host also answers listener questions related to the topic.
