You know the feeling. It’s Friday night, the week’s been a drag, and you’re all set to unwind with your latest true-crime binge on Netflix. Pajamas? Check. Snacks? Check. Creepy murder mysteries? Triple check. Nothing feels more relaxing, right?
Your fascination with unsolved murder and serial killers could mean something
But hold your horses; your love for all things macabre might be more revealing about your mental state than you realize. Someone far smarter than us – a psychologist – says so. Dr. Thema Bryant threw a curveball on The Mel Robbins Podcast, suggesting that our fascination with these sinister stories might be tied to some deep-seated trauma.
She said, “If your idea of relaxing before you go to sleep is to watch three episodes of Law and Order, [then] I would encourage you to think about ‘why is trauma relaxing to me?’
And buckle up, because it gets even juicier. Dr. Bryant added: “Some of us grew up in high stress [situations], so people mistake peace for boring. To come home to yourself, you have to lean into the discomfort because it’s gonna feel unfamiliar.”
Yep, you heard it right. Your murder mystery marathons could be your way of finding comfort in chaos. A little wild, huh?
Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, echoed similar sentiments in her discussion with Crime Reads. She explained why survivors of trauma might gravitate towards these grim tales. “Anecdotally, some people are drawn to the study of psychology to understand themselves and heal themselves,” she shared.
Dr. Jeglic further elaborated, “Similarly, I think it might be likely that people who have a history of trauma might be drawn to true crime to kind of re-experience those traumatic situations in a safe environment where they have more control.”
Double whammy! Now you’re not just a casual viewer; you’re re-living your trauma, but with a remote control.
Still think it’s harmless? Check out some reactions from TikTok. One user commented: “Wow! Makes so much sense.” Another said: “Gut drop… Off to journal.”
Does it feel like a revelation wrapped in a gut-punch? You’re not alone. One person admitted, “Wow that is exactly what I watch to relax. This was so enlightening.”
One user echoed another perspective. “The trauma isn’t relaxing to me – it’s the justice the characters/real people often get that I never did in my own life.” Pretty eye-opening, right?
So the next time you feel that strange calm come over you while delving into another episode of ‘Unsolved Mysteries,’ maybe it’s time to ask yourself some hard questions. Or, better yet, maybe it’s time to book that therapist appointment.