The Psychology of Thrillers

Kendra Young.

You know the sweet neighbor that you see from time to time when they’re watering their garden or carrying in their weekly groceries? What do you imagine they’re up to right now? By chance, do you think that they’re committing a bloody murder or conspiring against our government? Likely not. However, it isn’t offbeat to believe that they could be watching crime TV or listening to a murder mystery podcast as they’re walking the dog. Why is it that ordinary people are so intrigued by immoral activities that they would never participate in? Ordinary people meaning the law-abiding citizens that work a typical 9-5 job with no daily relation to the darker side of life. What about this dark and twisted side to life draws so much intrigue?

The answer may not be too hard to pinpoint; it’s literally in the name of the genre: thrillers. Thrillers excite us! They stimulate parts of our brain which normally remain untouched. The adrenaline rush we experience while tuning into this media chemically causes a euphoric feeling and we unknowingly build an addiction to the feeling. Going hand-in-hand with thrillers is the ease of filming them documentary-style. Parrot Analytics tracks media to measure audience demand with the inclusion of streams, search-engine traffic, social media, and illegal downloads; they tracked that the documentary genre is the fastest-growing segment in the streaming industry from January 2018-March 2021 (The Ringer). Of these documentaries, true crime is the biggest and fastest-growing subgenre of documentaries (The Ringer). Solely on consumer trends, it is easy to determine why thrillers have become so popular.

Thrillers also allow the audience to see how others in the world deal with ethical dilemmas. The plot of these stories often begins with tensions between people who have had a relationship of some sort, and it’s interesting to see fictional characters act on their worst intentions. I continued to explore this question and found that physician Yoo Jung Kim says “Psychological thrillers give readers the opportunity to explore individual motivations from a birds-eye perspective. This allows readers to predict how individuals faced with impossible choices would play out in real-world situations'' (Psychology Today). Criminal activities typically contrast generally accepted morals and the majority of ordinary people haven’t interacted with the mind of a sickly immoral person; thrillers give us the safe opportunity to do so.

Another reason that thrillers, mysteries, and crime media are so popular is the strategy and information that viewers feel like they’re learning. Can you recall a time when you watched a horror movie and were yelling (even internally) at the screen when a character makes a dumb decision? That’s because as you’re watching, you’re simultaneously thinking about how you would escape that situation. Micheal Mantell, Chief Psychologist for the SDPD, says that people are drawn to crime podcasts because they “have a strong interest in learning how to prevent becoming a victim [and] it’s a method to ‘feel like’ they have control over a given situation” (OZY). Satisfying ourselves with this guilty-pleasure entertainment feels equivalent to learning from other people’s mistakes so you don’t have to face them yourself.

The issue with the research gathered on this topic is that it contradicts itself. As mentioned previously, this type of media can feel addictive and informational and feeds into the human nature of curiosity. Alternatively, crime media can also cause increased stress, anxiety, and misperceptions (Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials). Penn State Professor Mary Beth Oliver conducted a study nearly 30 years ago which explored how crime television influenced the audience’s perception of race, crime, and aggression. Oliver and her team categorized 5 crime shows based on the crimes and resolutions portrayed, the racial representation of police enforcement and criminals, and the aggression paired with the crimes. After conducting the study, Oliver concluded that there is a misrepresentation of violent crimes, resolution of cases, and the race of police officers in this genre of media. This can cause day-to-day anxiety in consumers of this media because they may associate innocent demographics or areas with dangerous crimes, even if there is no history or truth to back up the psychological pairing. Oliver’s study is one source of proof that crime tv doesn’t help viewers paint an accurate picture of the reality of our criminal system. As a viewer, it’s difficult to dissociate those misconceptions when we don’t see the reality in our day-to-day lives.

It is hard to conclude whether or not thrillers benefit or harm society. Audiences enjoy the genre for its psychological effects but are subject to negative effects that they may not even consider. It simply all comes down to personal preference, moderation, and awareness. If you love this genre and don’t suffer from its negative psychological effects, continue to enjoy your favorite shows while recognizing that it doesn’t represent reality. If thrillers aren’t for you and they cause anxiety, find something more sensible to fill the curiosity and adrenaline that your brain desires.

Citations

Colin, Ned, and Nick Fouriezos. “Why True Crime Is Podcast Crack - for Women.” OZY, 14 Dec. 2019, https://www.ozy.com/good-sht/why-true-crime-is-podcast-crack-for-women/94331/.

Kaputk. “Is Your Love of True Crime Impacting Your Mental Health?” Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 11 Nov. 2021, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/psychological-effects-of-watching-crime-shows/.

Kim, Yoo Jung. “Why Do We Love Psychological Thrillers?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 16 May 2021, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/apple-day/202105/why-do-we-love-psychological-thrillers#:~:text=Psychological%20thrillers%20explore%20their%20characters,darkness%20in%20others%20and%20ourselves.

“Psychology 200: How Crime Shows Affect Attitudes.” Psychology 200 How Crime Shows Affect Attitudes, 29 Nov. 2018, https://folios.rmc.edu/psych200imprisonment/.

Sayles, Justin. “We're Watching More True Crime than Ever. Is That a Problem?” The Ringer, The Ringer, 9 July 2021, https://www.theringer.com/tv/2021/7/9/22567381/true-crime-documentaries-boom-bubble-netflix-hbo.