Coltan Scrivner (on morbid curiosities)
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Podcast Summary
This episode features Dr. Coltan Scrivner, a psychologist and researcher specializing in morbid curiosity and horror psychology. (03:36) Dr. Scrivner discusses his groundbreaking research on why humans are drawn to scary, violent, and morbid content despite finding it frightening or disturbing. The conversation explores his studies at haunted attractions in Denmark, his development of a 24-question morbid curiosity scale, and how exposure to frightening media serves as evolutionary preparation for real-world dangers. (19:30) The episode reveals that people have a "sweet spot" for fear where enjoyment is maximized - around seven out of ten on a scariness scale rather than the maximum terror that horror marketing often promises.
- Main themes include the evolutionary purpose of morbid curiosity, the four domains of morbid fascination (minds of dangerous people, violence, bodily injury, and paranormal danger), and how scary play helps humans practice emotional regulation and risk management.
Speakers
Coltan Scrivner
Coltan Scrivner is a psychologist, researcher, and author who is internationally recognized as an expert on morbid curiosity and the psychology of horror and true crime. He holds a PhD in Behavioral Biology from the University of Chicago's interdisciplinary Comparative Human Development department and currently conducts research at Arizona State University on a National Science Foundation grant examining risk management through scary play. He is the author of "Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can't Look Away" and lives in the Victorian town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where he operates a bed and breakfast and organizes an annual zombie festival.
Key Takeaways
Humans Use Scary Media as Safe Simulation Training
Dr. Scrivner explains that unlike other animals who can only learn about danger through direct experience, humans developed language and storytelling abilities that allow us to simulate dangerous scenarios without real risk. (41:12) Horror movies, true crime, and other morbid media function as evolutionary preparation tools - we can practice emotional regulation and learn about threats in a controlled environment. This is similar to how military personnel use simulations or pilots practice in flight simulators, but our brains do it naturally through consuming scary content.
The Sweet Spot of Fear Maximizes Enjoyment
Research conducted at haunted attractions in Denmark revealed that people don't enjoy being terrified to the maximum degree, despite what horror marketing suggests. (19:43) Instead, there's an optimal fear level around seven out of ten on a scariness scale where fun is maximized. People constantly regulate their fear levels - turning down lights to make things scarier or watching with friends to make it less frightening - to hit this sweet spot where they can practice managing anxiety without being overwhelmed.
Three Types of Horror Fans Exist
Dr. Scrivner's research identified three distinct categories of people who engage with scary content. The "adrenaline junkies" enjoy the physiological rush of fear itself. The "white knucklers" don't enjoy being scared but value the challenge and accomplishment of overcoming their fears, often reporting they learned something about themselves. The "dark copers" use horror to process difficult emotions or life circumstances, finding that scary content helps them work through anxiety, depression, or existential questions they're facing.
Morbid Curiosity Serves Four Distinct Functions
Dr. Scrivner's research revealed four domains of morbid curiosity, each serving different evolutionary purposes. Interest in "minds of dangerous people" (like true crime) helps us identify threats that don't signal their danger - crucial since humans evolved beyond reactive aggression to develop premeditated violence. (45:01) "Violence" fascination lets us study physical confrontation, "bodily injury" interest teaches us about human physical limits and what causes harm, and "paranormal danger" curiosity addresses our need to explain misfortune through agentic beings when we can't identify clear causes.
Morbid Curiosity Doesn't Create Dangerous People
Contrary to popular belief and moral panic around violent media, research shows no correlation between enjoying horror content and becoming violent or dangerous. (79:03) Dr. Scrivner notes that school shooters are actually less likely than average teenage boys to play violent video games. While serial killers may enjoy horror content, so do millions of law-abiding people. The key insight is that morbid curiosity by itself doesn't create pathological behavior - it's a normal human trait that serves important psychological and social functions.
Statistics & Facts
- Horror movies have doubled their market share over the last twenty years and currently represent around 17% of all film releases, making it the only genre showing consistent upward growth. (76:26)
- The human brain weighs approximately 3 pounds, with adult male brains weighing 1350-1400 grams and adult female brains weighing 1200-1300 grams. (05:29)
- Male lions sleep 18-20 hours per day and only need to hunt when defending territory from hyenas, while female lions do the majority of hunting work. (125:31)
