In the past decade or so, true crime has surged in popularity and evolved from a niche interest into a major form of entertainment. People are tuning in to riveting true crime episodes in 48 Hours, enjoying dramatized versions of crime stories in American Crime Story, and binge-ing Netflix documentaries like the Don Spirit documentary. Millions are captivated. But what makes true crime so engaging? Why are millions interested in asking unusual questions like “Who is the most dangerous person in the world?” or “Who has killed the most people in history?”

This blog will explore the psychology behind the true crime phenomenon, the factors that are leading to its growth, and what the profile is of the most engaged viewers.

True Crime’s Growth and Its Cultural Influence

According to a 2023 report by Nielsen, true crime podcasts alone are averaging over 20 million listeners a month in the U.S. and streaming platforms are reporting record viewership numbers for crime documentaries and series. The latest seasons of American Crime Story are in the top-rated categories on viewing platforms like Hulu and FX, while 48 Hours, which has been airing on CBS since 1988, continues to be one of the most-watched crime investigation television programs.

Because of the importance of the increased popularity and sheer numbers, we are also facing a change in cultural norms regarding the focus on entertainment preferences, access to digital content, increased emphasis on storytelling with real-life but perhaps entertaining experiences, and shifts in the portrayal of the criminal in society, and a society grappling with concerns about safety and justice.

What Psychological Aspects Fuel True Crime Fascination?

Experiencing Fear Within a Safe Context

Human evolution has equipped us to pay attention to potential threats. True crime dramas activate the fear circuitry of our brain. This creates the state of “fear” which produces adrenaline and dopamine without there being a true situation of danger. This creates a state of “safe fear” and can have a similar effect to “thrilling excitement”, like that of riding a roller coaster. We experience the rush of adrenaline by viewing 48 Hours or reading about various unsolved murders in the US while we remain in a safe and contained environment.

The Morbid Curiousity of Evil

People are curious about the darkest parts of humanity. We notice this when we ask ourselves the following questions; “Who is the most dangerous person in the world?” “Who has killed the most people in history?”. These types of questions reflect our interest in understanding what evil looks like, as an extreme. We are intrigued by serial killers such as Ted Bundy or historical figures responsible for large numbers of deaths because these people are “morally” within human experience and therefore ask big questions about evil and destructiveness at the very edge of what humans are capable of.

This curiousity is not purely voyeuristic curiosity – it is a desire to understand what drives people to behave so destructively, and what our societies’ responses are?

Need for Justice and Closure

True crime narratives are typically constructed around a moral arc; crime, investigation, resolution and punishment. This satisfies our universal desire for justice and order in our lives. True crime programs, like American Crime Story, depict real cases, and the aftermath legal process, as a true crime narrative. Moreover, true crime shows provide us with a psychological experience of closure about matters of injustice, and thus allow us to feel validated by a larger system grappling with a lack of justice.

When individuals wonder “is American Crime based on a true story?” they are wrestling with the relationship between truth and dramatization, and hoping for the reassurance that justice is possible.

Who Watches True Crime and Why?

Demographics

Research indicates that the majority of true crime fans are women, most often aged 18 to 49. It is suggested by psychologists that this demographic connection may stem from evolutionary behaviors: learning about potential risks and threats allowed for an increased awareness of human predators, which would ultimately increase awareness and promote safety. Many women report feeling more prepared and knowledgeable about the threats that are present in the world through consuming true crime content.

Globality

The U.S. is known as a mecca for true crime fandom. However, an increasing trend is the fact that there is also a global true crime fandom. Netflix’s international user engagement of crime documentaries – including the Don Spirit documentary Netflix – also illustrates that real crime stories transcend culture and far reaches of our planet.

The Role of Media and Technology

The development of streaming programming, podcasting and various social media platforms generated exponential access to true crime material for the everyday consumer. With just a click, viewers can go from a news story about how many unsolved murders there are in the US, to digging deeply into criminal history, suspect investigation profiles, trial footage and sentencings.

Media, like 48 Hours, have responded by providing their content more digitally, allowing the ability to use interactivity and consumer engagement to cultivate consumer participation. Social media is largely shaping and creating trends in true crime, with fans discussing theories, sharing case updates, and even crowd-sourcing investigations.

Facts That Highlight True Crime’s Appeal

1. The term “true crime” was popularized in the 1920s, but it didn’t develop into a genre until the 1990s with the introduction of books and television shows about real criminal acts.
2. The FBI estimates there are 40,000 active serial killers globally with only a fraction of these individuals captured. This morbid factor has ignited the public’s obsession with true crime.
3. Although the content is about killers, most true crime devotees note they are far more interested in the victims’ stories and the pursuit of justice.
4. Women make up around 80% of the true crime podcast demographic, causing content creators to produce episodes about (or led by) female victims or female leads.
5. When looking up “who kills the most people in history” often shows popular names in history like Stalin or Mao Zedong, showing how crime is a broader concept and is not only focused on individuals but also government and regimes.

Why Some Questions Are Seen in True Crime

The questions individuals ask in their online search habits provide a glimpse into their interests and motivations:

1. “Who is the most dangerous person in the world?” speaks to people’s interest in extreme criminal minds, from serial killers to mass murderers to systems of mass criminality.
2. “Who killed the most people in history?” also speaks to people’s interest in the scale of human atrocity, from serial killers to dictators.
3. “Is American Crime based on a true story?” and “Where can I watch American Crime Story?” speak to the way people engage with popular media embracing true crime topics and the blurry line between fact and dramatization.
4. “Where to watch 48 Hours?” and “what time is 48 Hours on tonight?” indicate real intrigue and commitment from the public toward this kind of investigative journalism.
5. “How many unsolved murders in US?” indicates a desire for justice, and perhaps the desire for mystery—unsolved murder brings about speculation and even community investigation.

True Crime and its Social Dimensions

True crime also has a social dimension, although we might use the word community instead. It accentuates many important elements to consider in our justice system, raises awareness of wrongful convictions, police misconduct, and many of the structural issues associated with the many high-profile cases highlighted in the news and media that lead society and individuals to advocate and push for social activism, or even reform.
Finally, many true crime communities offer a sense of social connection for fans when they share similar interests, even to the extent of working together and collaborating for a common cause via citizen investigative projects.

Conclusion

True crime has broad appeal due to a variety of psychological and cultural factors. Whether it is the safe exhilaration of fear, curiosity about human darkness, injustice, patterns and puzzles, social relationships, and connections- true crime resonates with important aspects of being human.

Whether you are curious for “who is the most famous serial killer”, looking for “where to stream American Crime Story”, or interested in “how to look up old murders”, your interest relates to larger human issues: understanding, safety, and belonging.

The audience for true crime shows no signs of diminishing- maybe that is because it captures some of the most primal and important aspects of our existence as human beings.

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