People Are Sharing The Worst Crimes That Happened In Their Hometowns

In short, true crime meets a lot of our human needs all at once: curiosity, problem-solving, threat management, social connection, and moral storytelling. Throw in some brilliant, suspenseful production and we're hooked.

According to a YouGov survey, more than one-third of Americans said they consume true crime content because of their interest in mysteries. “It’s just fascinating to look directly at the dark side of humanity from a safe distance,” shared one respondent.

Another said that they watch true crime in order “to see others get justice for themselves when [they] didn’t get it for a similar situation.” And one respondent said that his “female friends have told me they watch it to figure out how they would react if they were the victim in this situation as a way to feel safer while interacting with others.”

Some revealed they find it to be a healing experience. Interestingly, a few Americans who don't consume true crime think that those who do are either trying to learn to be criminals or enjoying others’ pain.