#984 - Coltan Scrivner - Why We’re Drawn to Death, Crime, & Danger

Chris Williamson interviews Colton Scrivner about morbid curiosity, exploring its evolutionary roots, psychological underpinnings, and manifestations in modern life. Scrivner explains that morbid curiosity stems from a need for threat learning and mitigation, allowing humans to safely explore dangerous scenarios and prepare for potential harm. The conversation covers the different domains of morbid curiosity (violence, true crime, body violations, and the supernatural), individual differences in morbid curiosity, and adaptive explanations for why humans are drawn to dark content. They also discuss the appeal of horror movies, zombie films, and the potential desensitization to violence through media exposure.