The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos How Horror Movies and True Crime Can Make You Happier
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Oct 27, 2025 In this discussion, Colton Scrivner, a psychologist and author of "Morbidly Curious," explores why horror movies and true crime content fascinate us. He explains that this morbid curiosity has roots in evolutionary adaptations, helping to increase emotional resilience. Colton reveals how engaging with scary content can teach important lessons about fear and coping. He also discusses the psychological benefits of horror fandom and how it can foster resilience, especially noted during the pandemic when horror fans coped better than others.
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Childhood Gaming That Taught Fear Control
- Colton Scrivner recounts playing Resident Evil at age five or six and learning to pause and regroup in safe rooms.
- That early scary-play experience taught him how to manage fear in a controlled setting.
Threat Bias Drives Morbid Curiosity
- Humans display a negativity or threat bias that prioritizes attention to dangerous events over positive ones.
- Colton reframes this as a threat bias that underpins morbid curiosity and information-seeking about danger.
Predator Inspection Mirrors Human Learning
- Predator inspection in animals mirrors human curiosity about danger and peaks in adolescence.
- Young individuals inspect threats more because they can learn and survive future encounters.
