Modern Wisdom #984 - Coltan Scrivner - Why We’re Drawn to Death, Crime, & Danger
166 snips
Aug 23, 2025 Colton Scrivner, a behavioral scientist and author, delves into the psychology behind our fascination with death and danger. He explains why morbid curiosity draws some people toward horror, true crime, and even serial killers, while repulsing others. Scrivner explores the evolutionary roots of this phenomenon, discussing how engaging with fear can provide emotional benefits and enhance threat awareness. He also highlights the gender differences in these interests and the allure of horror narratives, revealing deep connections between curiosity, empathy, and our attraction to violence.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Curiosity Lets Us Sandbox Threats
- Humans study dangerous scenarios because stories let us learn about threats without being exposed to real danger.
- Colton Scrivner argues curiosity lets us approach threats safely to gain survival knowledge.
Stories Replace Dangerous Fieldwork
- Observing danger at a distance is adaptive because it teaches threat detection without risk.
- Scrivner compares human storytelling to predator inspection in gazelles to illustrate this.
Four Domains Of Morbid Curiosity
- Morbid curiosity splits into four domains: violence, dangerous minds, bodily violations, and the supernatural.
- Each domain helps us predict threats and avoid future harm, Scrivner explains.