true crime – The Hilltop Monitor https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu The Official Student Publication of William Jewell College Thu, 27 Mar 2025 02:00:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cropped-3-32x32.png true crime – The Hilltop Monitor https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu 32 32 The World of True Crime https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/the-world-of-true-crime/ https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/the-world-of-true-crime/#respond Wed, 27 Nov 2024 15:00:00 +0000 https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/?p=20244
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True crime has emerged as a cultural moment, captivating audiences through documentaries, podcasts and books. Podcasts such as Crime Junkie and The Anatomy of Murder and shows like Dateline and 48 Hours hold the nation in a grip. This genre delves into real-life criminal cases, offering a potent mix of suspense, mystery and psychological intrigue. But what drives our fascination with true crime and what are its broader impacts on our psychology and society?

Why We Watch True Crime

The allure of true crime lies in its ability to satisfy our curiosity. As humans, we are inherently drawn to novelty and excitement. True crime provides a unique blend of these elements by immersing us in stories that are both shocking and real. This genre allows us to experience fear and adrenaline in a controlled environment, much like riding a roller coaster.

Psychologists suggest that engaging with true crime can be a way to safely explore our own fears. According to Dr. Michael Mantell, a clinical psychologist, the fascination with true crime is partly due to the brain’s desire for stimulation. The narratives often involve complex puzzles that invite viewers to piece together clues alongside investigators, engaging our problem-solving instincts. This interactive element not only entertains but also provides a sense of accomplishment when the mystery is unraveled.

Moreover, true crime can serve as a tool for understanding potential threats. By exploring the motives and methods of criminals, viewers feel better equipped to recognize and avoid danger in their own lives. This perceived preparedness can be particularly appealing in an unpredictable world where understanding human behavior can feel like a form of self-protection.

 Psychological Impact

While true crime can be thrilling, it also has profound effects on our psychology. Consuming these narratives often heightens fears and anxieties, as the portrayal of gruesome crimes makes the world seem more dangerous than it is. This perception is exacerbated by the media’s focus on violent crimes committed by strangers, despite evidence showing that most violent acts are perpetrated by someone known to the victim.

Research indicates that heavy consumption of true crime media can lead to increased anxiety and hypervigilance. This disconnect between perception and reality contributes to a culture of fear. People may feel unsafe in their neighborhoods or homes, overestimating the likelihood of encountering violent crime despite statistical evidence suggesting otherwise.

Such fears can have lasting effects on mental health, influencing behaviors and perceptions of safety in everyday life. For instance, individuals may become more cautious or suspicious of others, impacting their social interactions and overall quality of life.

The Role of True Crime for Victims

For victims and their families, true crime can be both beneficial and detrimental. On one hand, it brings attention to cold cases and unsolved crimes, providing a platform for stories that might otherwise remain unheard. This renewed focus can lead to increased advocacy efforts and even reopen investigations. Many cases involving marginalized victims have received renewed attention thanks to true crime media.

However, this exposure often comes at a significant cost. True crime narratives can exploit the trauma experienced by victims and their families, reducing their suffering to mere entertainment. This commodification of pain can lead to further victimization as families grapple with public scrutiny over their personal tragedies. Balancing awareness with respect for victims’ experiences is a critical concern within the true crime genre.

Victims’ families may find themselves reliving traumatic events each time their story is retold in documentaries or podcasts. The ethical implications of this are significant, raising questions about consent and the right to privacy versus public interest.

True Crime and the Criminal Justice System

True crime also serves as a lens through which we can critique the criminal justice system. Many documentaries and investigative podcasts highlight systemic failures such as wrongful convictions, inadequate legal representation and racial disparities. By shedding light on these issues, true crime fosters public dialogue and demands accountability from law enforcement and judicial institutions.

Unfortunately, the genre’s sensationalism can also perpetuate existing problems within the system. The focus on individual stories often overshadows broader societal issues like the need for reform in policing and legal practices. Additionally, consistently portraying law enforcement figures as heroes can inadvertently reinforce trust in a system that may not always deliver justice fairly.

True crime narratives sometimes emphasize dramatic storytelling over factual accuracy or comprehensive analysis of systemic issues. This approach can skew public understanding of justice, emphasizing sensational details rather than encouraging critical examination of underlying societal problems.

Conclusion

While true crime offers entertainment and insight into criminal minds, it also poses challenges related to fear perception, victim exploitation and systemic justice issues. As consumers of true crime media, it is crucial to engage critically with these narratives, recognizing both their allure and their potential consequences.

By understanding the psychological underpinnings of our interest in true crime—and its broader implications—we can better navigate our consumption of this compelling yet challenging genre.
]]> https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/the-world-of-true-crime/feed/ 0 True Crime: our fascinating yet disturbing obsession https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/true-crime-our-fascinating-yet-disturbing-obsession/ https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/true-crime-our-fascinating-yet-disturbing-obsession/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2020 14:00:00 +0000 https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/?p=12357
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“NCIS,” “Making a Murderer,” “Criminal Minds” and anything on the Investigation Discovery network are true crime shows. This genre has captured the hearts of myself and many other Americans, but why?

One reason could be that it is like a bad car wreck. Viewers want to look away, but they’re also fascinated by it.

According to Time, people get a boost of adrenaline when they witness something horrible, and this adrenaline response can be addictive.

These types of shows also allow people to be scared, but in a controlled and safe environment where the threat isn’t real. It is also exciting to guess who the killer is and to create games around solving crimes.

Some people even find these murderers attractive, especially when they are portrayed in TV shows and movies by seemingly attractive people. For example, Zac Efron played Ted Bundy in the 2019 Netflix film “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.” Efron’s star power and sex appeal helped highlight Bundy’s attractive and likeable guy characteristics

Forensic psychologist Dr. Katherine Ramsland states that those who commit violent crimes often don’t even need to be attractive in order to have a following, they just must be “bold and confident.” Dr. Ramsland explains that in these followers’ minds is the notion that “he might kill other women but he’d be good to me.”

It is also important to note that these true crime shows often portray middle-class white women as the victims. This is problematic because it leaves out those in society who are much more likely to be victims of violent crimes – including LGBTQ+ people and those who are not white.

Additionally, the statistics of those who enjoy true-crime show that 70 percent of Amazon’s true crime readers are women. Men statistically are more likely to be a part of violent crimes, as the attacker or victim, whereas women are much more likely to only be the victim.

In an interview with The Guardian, Rachel Monroe, author of the true-crime book “Savage Appetite,” says that this “white, dead woman” story is so popular because it appeals to those who are in the privileged position to experience this threatening situation in a way where they can choose when to watch the show or not.

In contrast, in a CBS interview the hosts of the true crime podcast “Wine and Crime” explain that true crime can be used as a positive escape from reality. Some women find comfort in listening to true crime podcasts because it allows them to share their anxieties with others who also have their own struggles.

Now for the ethics of true-crime. It seems difficult for true crime to ever be completely ethical, as the genre does sensationalize violent crime and the perpetrators. However, focusing on the victims instead of how a murderer meticulously tortures and kills them could be the most ethical approach to consuming true crime media. This more ethical approach is unlikely to attract many followers to the true crime genre, though.

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