Drawn to Darkness: Women’s Obsession with True Crime

Did you know that women make up the vast majority of true crime enthusiasts? They account for almost 75% of the audience for some of the most popular true crime podcasts and around 80% of the audience for investigative crime documentaries. But have you ever wondered why some women seem to have such intense fascination with these brutal, disturbing stories? 

This was a topic my mother and I were talking about while binging some documentaries about serial killers and murder cases over the past few weeks. My dad, on the other hand, said he doesn’t get it, and the more I’ve asked around, the more I’ve noticed a pattern. Most of the men I’ve spoken to, regardless of age, either have very little interest in true crime or flat-out don’t understand the appeal. Of course, there are men who enjoy it, but overall, it’s undeniably a female-dominated interest. 

Researching this topic, I discovered a psychologist by the name of Scott A. Bonn, who tours with his roadshow, “The Psychology of Serial Killers and Why They Captivate Us.” He published an article called “Why the True Crime Audience is Predominantly Female,” where he tries to explain women’s obsession from a psychological perspective. 

He begins by describing how compassion and empathy deeply influence a woman’s captivation with crime stories. “Based on my experience and research, women’s fascination with true crime is driven by their empathetic nature. In particular, women empathize with the victims in true crime stories who, more often than not, are mostlly women. Female fans identify with and can easily imagine themselves in the role of the victim in frightening true crime tales.” 

Many women can relate to the fear and vulnerability they see or hear about victims experiencing in these stories. They can see themselves in the role of that victim, which leads to the next point Bonn makes — women aren’t only using empathy to understand the place of the victim but also using true crime shows and podcasts as a way of understanding what goes through the offender’s head. “It is my observation that women strongly empathize with, and seek to understand, the motivations of the perpetrators — especially male perpetrators — in true crime stories. I believe this has to do with a female desire to feel safe and secure.” 

Consuming true crime content could be a form of self-education, something to offer women insights into potential dangers and even strategies to avoid them. Connecting with these stories might give women a sense of control and the means to better protect themselves. 

To gain an understanding outside of my own, I interviewed Daisy Payne, a senior at Peninsula High School, about her interest in true crime stories. “I wouldn’t say that I just suddenly got interested in it; I was brought up on it,” she said. I asked if the lingering lessons from true crime media made her feel more aware or cautious in her everyday life. “Absolutely. You don’t watch thousands of cases and go on with your life as easily as before, especially if you’re young. I make sure I’m never alone out at night, have an alarm to pull in case I feel threatened, and that my location is shared with everyone I trust, no matter what. This goes beyond just general protection but also the effects of growing up as a woman. It’s no secret you are raised to be more careful and that you’re more at risk as a crime victim.” 

I spoke to another young woman, another senior at Peninsula who shared a similar fascination with true crime but preferred to stay anonymous. She echoed Payne’s feelings, revealing that she also spends much of her free time watching documentaries about murder mysteries. She connected it to learning safety techniques and tactics she could apply to her own life. 

Once more, her perspective aligned with Bonn’s theory that women immerse themselves in true crime not merely for entertainment but as a form of education to prioritize their safety. This pattern suggests that for many women, true crime serves as a tool to better navigate and understand a world they perceive as inevitably dangerous. 

These young women’s answers reflected not only Bonn’s observations but also resonated with my own experiences. Like them, I watch true crime documentaries, listen to podcasts, and research serial killers and their tactics to learn how to avoid the horrifying situations so many girls have tragically found themselves in. This motivation shared among women reveals a relationship between empathy, fear and survival. 

Many people may fail to understand this complex fascination, and some may judge, but it’s clear that for many women, this is more than simple entertainment. In a world that keeps women on high alert and in a world where women are taught to be cautious from a young age, true crime serves as a modern-day survival guide. It gives them knowledge of how to protect themselves if a time ever comes when they need to. After all, staying safe means staying one step ahead. 

Camri Clawson is a junior at Peninsula High School.