Why We Love Crime Shows: The Surprising Comfort of Murder and Mayhem

What is it about watching crime shows on TV? Murder, mayhem, and deeply disturbing human behavior on a screen engage me, make me happy, and sometimes even relax me. And it’s not just me. I can’t help but wonder if we should be concerned about the fact that something so dark can make so many of us feel so good.

What is it about these shows that appeals to us? It doesn’t have to be true crime to get on my radar, I like all types of crime puzzles. And chances are I’ll like a show even more if it’s British. Those preferences are revelatory of the fact that even in the world of TV crime shows, there are choices to be made. For starters, you may opt out of crime entirely. Those who opt in know there is a difference between fictional crime shows and true crime.

True or Fictionalized?

True crime gives an insight into our culture, norms, anxieties, and values. One theory on the appeal suggests our interest in true crime comes from a human desire to understand what motivates bad guys. A 2010 study at the University of Illinois concluded true crime stories are particularly popular with women. Arguably, female curiosity here is at least sometimes driven by a need to feel safe or prepared in the face of potential danger. Women, especially, may be drawn to information that helps us recognize, anticipate, and mitigate danger. Some of these shows demonstrate or imply ways to fight back, stay alive, or stay safe entirely. True crime is a window into the true depravity on the streets outside that you gaze through from the safety of your home.

Fictionalized crime has an additional element of safety in that it depicts crimes someone made up for the purpose of telling you a story. It’s easier to reap the thrilling benefits and simultaneously write off any real danger. The danger is contained to the story. There is a reassuring sense that the fictional problem will eventually be resolved.

What’s The Appeal?

To explain the appeal of crime shows, Grace Blair posited in Psychology Today that:

1. We love an adrenaline rush, especially one where you know you’re actually safe
2. Our mind and imagination are engaged. We like doing puzzles and mysteries can be so satisfying.
3. We are hard wired to enjoy crime shows because they activate our survival instincts
4. We are fascinated by our own “dark side” and relish the opportunity to understand why people act the way they do. It gives us a chance to interact with our deviant capabilities without acting upon them. We are all capable of some level of deviance.

The appeal might also be as simple as relaxing, escapist entertainment. We often think of wellness as choosing positive experiences that are calm, uplifting, or both. Yet many of us actually unwind by watching some of the most unsettling things imaginable. Many crime shows are formulaic and the predictability or at least the predictable structure can be relaxing. Apparently, the route to relaxation is not always from the consumption of something pleasant. Sometimes it’s the comfort of the formula and other times it’s more about distraction.

It may also merely be appreciation that while we’re watching a fictional crime unfold, we’re taking a break from our routine, which typically involves fixing things. While someone else’s world is falling apart, ours, for the moment, is not. During viewing hours, no decisions need to be made, no conflicts resolved, no care taken of anyone. We just kick back, watch, and sleuth it out. Maybe we enjoy figuring it out or maybe we prefer being shocked and surprised. Let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like settling in for a relaxing evening of murder. If you know, you know.

There’s Something For Everyone

Of course, not everyone finds crime shows relaxing. For some people, they increase anxiety, disturb sleep, or leave them feeling less safe. Needless to say, alternative genres are plentiful. Nobody needs to spend time watching anything on television that negatively impacts their health. The interesting question isn’t whether crime shows are good or bad for us, but what role they play in our individual lives. Our willingness to spend three hours watching a fictional serial killer while insisting we just want to relax is weird, no matter how normalized it’s become. Still, self care is not one size fits all.

For me, curling up under a blanket, sipping tea, and watching someone investigate a gruesome murder is a relaxing form of self-care. The safety of being in my home and the challenge of figuring out a potentially horrific puzzle are a winning combination. Sometimes our minds need an engaging escape more than another mindfulness exercise.

Musical Playlist While You Ponder This Post

Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen, Hurricane by Bob Dylan, Jenny Was a Friend of Mine by The Killers, I Don’t Like Mondays by The Boomtown Rats, I Just Shot John Lennon by The Cranberries, Killer by Phoebe Bridgers, The Pink Panther Theme by Henry Mancini, Law & Order Theme by Mike Post, Miami Vice Theme by Jan Hammer, The Rockford Files Theme by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter, Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers

Thinking and Trying

Something to think about: “No man chooses evil because it is evil. He only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.” —Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Something to try: Consider what you might want to watch next. Here are some of my favorite crime shows and spy thrillers that you might want to check out if you haven’t already seen them (and please don’t hesitate to add your favorites in the comments):

1. Broadchurch
2. Happy Valley
3. Luther
4. Bad Sisters
5. How To Get To Heaven From Belfast
6. Black Doves
7. The Bridge
8. The Night Manager
9. Mare of Easttown
10. And, of course, Criminal Minds, Law & Order (all of ’em), The Wire, and Mindhunter

Coaching Can Help

If you’re concerned that you’re spending too much time watching television and not enough time actually living but you’re finding it hard to get off the couch and make a change, consider working with a coach. Sometimes a plan that involves small action steps and an accountability partner can lead to satisfying changes, Contact me here to talk about how coaching can help you. The first session is 15 minutes over Zoom and it’s free.