Psychologist Reveals The Concerning Reason Why You Find True Crime Relaxing
But not everyone agrees with Dr Bryant's take.
By Laila Zain — 29 Mar 2024, 05:28 PM
In today's binge-watch culture, true crime documentaries and fictional crime series have become the go-to choice for many
Although true crime is nothing new, in recent years, the genre has taken a life of its own online. Many people, particularly women, often joke about how watching true crime documentaries helps them relax and fall asleep at the end of a long day.
And with streaming platforms like Netflix capitalising on the Internet's infatuation with criminals, documentaries are being churned out on a regular basis.
But one psychologist is stirring controversy for warning that finding true crime relaxing is a red flag
Dr Thema Bryant is an American psychologist who is a professor of psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. Her research considers interpersonal trauma and societal trauma of oppression.
On an episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, Dr Bryant said: "If your idea of relaxing before you go to sleep is to watch three episodes of Law and Order, I would encourage you to think about 'why is trauma relaxing to me?'"
"It's harm, crime, violation, attacks, and that's what is going to soothe me into my bedtime," Dr Bryant said, explaining the reasons why many of her clients enjoy watching true crime
She goes on to say that people who grow up in high-stress situations may mistake peace as "boring". Thus, they lean into crime shows because they feel "normal and familiar".
Many commenters found her statement to be an eye-opener
"Makes so much sense," wrote a TikTok user, while another commented, "That just blew my mind wide open."
"And this was the moment I realised... I haven't watched SVU [Law & Order: Special Victims Unit] since I went to therapy and started healing," a commenter remarked.
A common reaction to Dr Bryant's statement was that many had stopped watching crime on TV after healing. "This really hits home. I used to watch so much chaos on TV, but after working hard on myself for the past two years I just can't anymore," one commenter said.
"Ok this is really an eye-opener. I used to love true crime and now that I've been healing for over a year, it isn't even interesting to me," said another.However, others disagreed with the psychologist, calling her statement "a far stretch"
"She has no data to back this up. Psychological facts need to be well-researched and tested," a commenter said.
Others echoed similar sentiments, saying they watch true crime not because of past trauma, but because they believe knowledge is power. Understanding forensics and good policing helps bring them comfort and makes them feel safe, they said.
Finally, another comment simply stated, "People saying that everything is a red flag is one of my red flags."
Watch the video here:
