The Allure of True Crime
By Nicole Trister
For many of us, television is more than entertainment — it’s a moment of escape from the pressures of daily life. And for a large number of viewers, especially young adults and women, the appeal of true crime goes deeper than distraction.
These dark and often unsettling stories seem to offer something paradoxical: a sense of safety in fear. They allow us to explore danger and loss from a distance, to make sense of chaos, and to feel some measure of control in an unpredictable world.
At its core, our fascination with true crime isn’t about morbid curiosity. It’s about survival, empathy, and understanding what it means to be human.
Facing Fear from a Place of Safety
The word escapism often gets a bad reputation, as though stepping away from reality is the same as avoiding it. But in truth, healthy escapism can be a powerful coping strategy.
True crime engages us emotionally and intellectually without exposing us to actual danger. It activates our fear and curiosity while we remain physically safe on the couch. In this way, watching true crime becomes a rehearsal — a way to practice facing threat, uncertainty, and moral complexity in a controlled environment.
Rather than a passive retreat, it can be an active effort to make sense of what frightens us, all from a place of safety and distance.
Why True Crime Resonates with Women
It’s no coincidence that women make up the majority of true crime audiences. From a young age, many women are taught, both directly and indirectly, to be vigilant. The reality is that women are disproportionately impacted by violence, and that awareness can create a constant undercurrent of caution.
For many, true crime offers a form of cognitive self-defense. It allows women to observe patterns, spot red flags, and learn through others’ experiences. In doing so, it fosters both empowerment and preparedness.
There’s also a deeper psychological element at play. Revisiting stories of danger and survival can reflect what psychoanalysts call repetition compulsion — the drive to return to unsettling experiences in order to master them. When women engage with these stories, they may be subconsciously processing fears and reclaiming a sense of agency.
In a world of online dating, constant interaction, and quick decisions about trust, this kind of engagement can feel both protective and purposeful.
Understanding Pathology Through Story
True crime also allows viewers the opportunity to explore psychological pathology. Recent dramatizations like Monster: The Ed Gein Story illustrate how early emotional wounds can shape even the most extreme forms of behavior.
Beyond the shocking details of his crimes, the series highlights a deeper psychological truth — that Gein’s violence may have stemmed from a fractured attachment to his domineering mother. His horrific acts can be understood, in part, as a distorted attempt to regain control and soothe the pain of loss and rejection.
From a psychological lens, Gein’s story isn’t about excusing behavior — it’s about understanding how trauma, isolation, and identity confusion can intertwine in tragic ways. It reminds us that even the darkest human actions emerge from deeply human pain.
Storytelling as Connection & Closure
Part of what keeps us coming back to true crime is the storytelling itself. These are not just stories about crime, they are stories about people: power, betrayal, survival, and justice.
Engaging with true crime is rarely a solitary act. We talk about it with friends, listen to podcasts, share theories online, and collectively process what we’ve seen. This shared reflection helps us explore cultural fears together.
There’s also something deeply satisfying about resolution. Even when a story is painful, seeing it through to the end provides a sense of closure that provides psychological relief which helps us make sense of uncertainty and restore order to chaos.
Using Media as Mindful Coping
When we turn to true crime, the key is awareness. Within cognitive and dialectical behavior frameworks, there’s a difference between avoidance and intentional distraction. True crime can absolutely serve as an adaptive tool for managing emotions when approached thoughtfully.
Here are a few ways to engage mindfully:
Set an intention. Ask yourself why you’re drawn to the story — curiosity, learning, emotional release?
Notice your reactions. Pay attention to how your body and emotions respond while watching.
Reflect afterward. Consider what resonated with you and why. Did it feel empowering, unsettling, or illuminating?
Find balance. Let true crime be a temporary refuge, but remember to come back to the present moment — grounded, connected, and safe.
Final Reflections
Far from being just dark entertainment, true crime stories offer a window into our collective psychology. They help us confront fear, practice empathy, and make sense of a world that can sometimes feel chaotic.
If you notice that media like this evokes strong emotions or becomes your main way of coping, it may be worth exploring those reactions in therapy. Talking about what draws us to certain stories can open the door to understanding deeper needs and emotions.
At Evoke Psychology, we help people make meaning out of their experiences — transforming patterns of fear and control into insight, healing, and agency.
Because often, the stories we’re drawn to are, in some way, stories about ourselves.
