Title: Why We Are Drawn to True Crime Shows | Time
Headings: Why We Are Drawn to True Crime Shows
Why We Are Drawn to True Crime Shows
Ideas
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Content: The euphoric effect of true crime on human emotions is similar to that of roller coasters or natural disasters. The public is drawn to true crime because it triggers the most basic and powerful emotion in all of us—fear. As a source of popular culture entertainment, it allow us to experience fear and horror in a controlled environment where the threat is exciting but not real. For example, the stories of real-life killers are often for adults what monster movies are for children. Moreover, by following an investigation on TV, people can play armchair detective and see if they can figure out “whodunit” before law enforcement authorities catch the actual perpetrator. After much consideration, I believe that for many people, including me, true crime shows generally offer guilty pleasure to thrill-seeking adults. Why is there guilt? It feels wrong or inappropriate for us to delight in the horrors inflicted on real people in true crime shows. Yet many of us relish watching these shows anyway. But although we may feel a bit guilty about indulging in them, we simply cannot stop.