Why are women so fascinated by true crime? A psychotherapist explains the psychology behind our obsession

Whether it’s settling down to watch the latest Netflix murder documentary, listening to a podcast about an unsolved disappearance or following the details of a high-profile criminal case, true crime has become a fixture of modern entertainment.

But there’s something particularly interesting about its female audience. Women are often drawn to stories involving murder, sexual violence, missing people and serial killers – subjects that can be deeply disturbing, particularly when the victims are other women.

So why are we so fascinated by these stories? Is it morbid curiosity, a desire to understand what makes someone capable of committing a horrific crime, or something more deeply rooted in our psychology?

According to Eloise Skinner, author and psychotherapist, there could be several psychological explanations. And while everyone’s motivations will be different, our interest in true crime may have less to do with enjoying the violence and more to do with understanding the world around us.

1. We might be trying to understand how to protect ourselves

One explanation for women’s fascination with true crime could be rooted in self-preservation.

For many women, personal safety is something they consider regularly. Whether walking home alone, going on a first date or meeting someone new, we can find ourselves assessing potential risks and thinking about how to stay safe.

Listening to stories about women who have experienced violence may provide an opportunity to explore these fears from a distance.

“Women are aware – on a conscious and unconscious level – of the dangers of violence against them and the potential risks of situations we might find ourselves in,” explains Skinner.

“Listening to these stories can help us understand how we might better protect ourselves, or consider how we might react in certain circumstances.”

This doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re deliberately looking for safety advice when we press play on a murder podcast. But learning about the circumstances surrounding a crime might help us feel more prepared to recognise potentially dangerous situations.

2. True crime could be a form of fear rehearsal

Have you ever watched a documentary about a woman being stalked or attacked and found yourself imagining what you would have done in her position?

This could be an example of what is sometimes described as fear rehearsal: mentally exploring a threatening scenario and considering how we might respond.

While watching a true crime documentary, we might imagine ourselves in the victim’s circumstances, run through possible outcomes and consider what decisions we would make.

Skinner suggests that this mental process could help some people manage feelings of uncertainty.

“For many people, our brains might run through a worst-case scenario to see how we might respond in these circumstances,” she says.

“This can be a way to reduce a perceived threat, or deal with a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety about what might happen in these cases – a way to make us feel safer and more protected.”

In other words, exploring frightening situations from the safety of our own homes might offer a sense of psychological preparation. We can engage with something threatening without actually being exposed to the danger ourselves.

3. We identify with the victims

Another reason women might be particularly drawn to true crime is the emotional connection they feel with victims.

When a documentary explores the disappearance or murder of a woman, viewers may recognise similarities between themselves and the person at the centre of the story.

Perhaps they are a similar age, have a comparable family background or share everyday habits and experiences. These seemingly small details can make a story feel much closer to home.

“We can certainly find a sense of shared identity with someone who has similar life features to us – age, background, habits, preferences, values, etc,” explains Skinner.

“That identification could make the stories of victims even more compelling, as we might feel a sense of closeness towards them, or reflect on their story as something that could have happened to us in a different context.”

This emotional connection may also explain why some stories stay with us long after the documentary has finished.

Rather than simply following the details of a crime, we become invested in the person who experienced it, their relationships and the life they might otherwise have had.

4. We want to understand the mind of a killer

While we might feel empathy for victims, another part of our fascination with true crime is the desire to understand the person responsible.

How could someone who appears perfectly ordinary be capable of committing an extraordinary act of violence? What motivates someone to hurt another person? And are there warning signs that might reveal what they are capable of?

For Skinner, this desire to understand the perpetrator could be connected to our need for reassurance and a sense of control.

“The uncertainty associated with the reasoning behind why someone might do this, or who might be capable of doing this, can make us feel a sense of mistrust or concern when engaging with other people,” she explains.

“Trying to understand why a person might have been able to do this, or what type of person is more likely to do this, might give us a greater sense of agency in our relationships or a perceived sense of safety.”

Essentially, understanding the psychology behind a crime might help us make sense of something that otherwise feels incomprehensible.

We want to know what drives extreme behaviour, whether perpetrators share particular characteristics and whether there is anything we could recognise before someone causes harm.

5. Spotting red flags gives us a sense of control

From manipulative partners to seemingly harmless strangers with sinister intentions, true crime stories often explore the warning signs that were missed before a crime took place.

It’s perhaps unsurprising that viewers become particularly interested in these details.

Could we have spotted the warning signs? Would we have recognised the behaviour as dangerous? Would we have made different decisions?

Skinner suggests that this interest could reflect a desire for greater autonomy.

“Understanding warning signs and red flags can give us a greater sense of autonomy – we might have an enhanced understanding of how we’d like to make choices, how we’d like to respond to circumstances, etc,” she says.

There may also be an unconscious desire to understand our surroundings more deeply and become more aware of potential risks.

However, it’s important to remember that dangerous people don’t always fit a recognisable pattern. Nor can every crime be prevented by spotting a red flag. The responsibility for violence always lies with the perpetrator, not the victim.

6. It offers escapism from everyday life

Not every explanation for our fascination with true crime needs to be rooted in fear.Sometimes,  it could simply be about escapism.

A gripping documentary or podcast can completely absorb our attention, taking us away from everyday responsibilities, work pressures and personal worries.

The dramatic twists, unanswered questions and gradual revelation of information can make these stories particularly compelling.

Skinner suggests that becoming immersed in a traumatic or dramatic story can offer a temporary escape from the challenges of everyday life.

We might find ourselves concentrating so intensely on what happened, who was responsible and whether justice was served that everything else temporarily fades into the background.

This doesn’t mean we enjoy the suffering involved. Rather, the storytelling, mystery and psychological complexity can hold our attention in the same way as a gripping fictional thriller.

7. Can too much true crime make us more anxious?

Although true crime can be compelling, repeatedly exposing ourselves to stories of violence and murder may also have a downside.

If we’re constantly consuming accounts of women being stalked, attacked or killed, it could influence how safe we feel in the world around us.

We might become more suspicious of strangers, increasingly anxious about travelling alone or reluctant to put ourselves in situations that previously wouldn’t have worried us.

“Any overconsumption of a certain type of media could have a negative impact, shaping our ideas about the world, as well as shaping our values, beliefs and interactions with other people,” says Skinner.

“For true crime particularly, it could make us less trusting, more anxious, more vigilant and less relaxed.”

So how do we know when our interest has become unhealthy?

Skinner suggests looking at whether our consumption is beginning to affect everyday life.

This could include experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety, changing our behaviour because of perceived danger, feeling increasingly isolated or noticing that our relationships are suffering.

Another warning sign might be becoming so preoccupied with true crime that it feels all-consuming rather than an occasional form of entertainment.

If watching another murder documentary leaves you feeling frightened, suspicious or unable to switch off, it might be worth taking a break.

So, what does our fascination with true crime really say about us?

There probably isn’t one single explanation for why women are so drawn to true crime. For some, it may be about understanding danger and feeling better equipped to protect themselves. For others, it could be empathy for victims, curiosity about human behaviour or simply the appeal of a gripping story.

Skinner also points to research suggesting that women, on average, perform better than men on certain measures of theory of mind – the ability to understand and interpret other people’s thoughts, feelings and intentions.

A study led by researchers at the University of Cambridge examined the theory of mind performance across 57 countries and found a female advantage on the test used. However, this doesn’t establish that women are inherently more empathetic or that this explains their interest in true crime.

Ultimately, our fascination may reveal something about the way we navigate fear, uncertainty and our relationships with other people.

Perhaps we’re not simply watching to find out who committed the crime. We’re trying to understand how it happened, why someone was capable of it and whether we would recognise the warning signs ourselves.

And in a world where personal safety can feel like an everyday consideration, that desire to understand the darker side of human nature may be more complicated than simple morbid curiosity.

Eloise Skinner is an author and psychotherapist. Find out more at www.eloiseskinner.com.