I’m So Obsessed With True Crime That My Family’s Gotten Scared Of Me. Here’s Why.
Why are we so obsessed with true crime?
We all have that one family member who is a little scary because he is overly obsessed with true crime and serial killers. In my household, that person is me. Every time a new Netflix series on true crime is released, I would binge-watch the entire show in a single day.
In fact, I love true crime so much that I would borrow books on famous serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy, just so I can gain a deeper insight into their motivations. Naturally, my family has started to become worried about my hobby but I pay them no mind.
Some of you might be wondering why I am glorifying the atrocities done by these criminals and giving them the attention and fame they craved. Here are some reasons why I’m obsessed with true crime.
Crime Is Thrilling
When I watch a true crime series, I get a rush of adrenaline. For example, in Netflix’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, when 14-year-old Konerak Sinthasomphone attempted to flee Dahmer’s apartment building, Dahmer was confronted by cops who were unaware that he was a serial killer. I was on the edge of my seat as the cops walked around his apartment, even though I knew he wouldn’t be caught that early in the series.
The adrenaline rush I get whenever I watch scenes like this keeps me coming back to true crime for more.
To Judge The Intellect And Methodologies Of Criminals
Contrary to popular belief, serial killers actually have a lower IQ as compared to the rest of the population. Intelligent ones like Ted Bundy, with an IQ of 136, and Jeffery Dahmer, with an IQ of 145, are actually outliers.
As such, I like to judge criminals based on their plans and methods they use. Are they smart enough to cover their tracks? Once, my mother and I were watching a drama scene where a murderer was trying to hide his victim’s body. I immediately pointed out all the flaws in his plan and voiced out suggestions on how I would have hidden the body. Needless to say, my mother was freaked out and started scolding me.
To Understand The Psyche Of Criminals
Criminals tend to be victims of abuse, abandonment, and humiliation. The birth mothers of David Berkowitz, Ted Bundy, and Joel Rifkin abandoned them, and we know how that turned out. Bundy spent his childhood moving across the country because his grandfather was racist, misogynistic, and abusive. Edmund Kemper’s birth mother abused and tortured him.
I believe that no one is born a murderer. Various psychologists believe that Ted Bundy was not born a killer, but was shaped into one by the circumstances of his early childhood. As a result, I’m very interested to learn what motivated people like him to commit such heinous acts of violence. I’m curious about what makes them tick because I’d never murder someone.
How To Avoid Being A Victim
Women are typically the victims in most true crime and horror shows. According to studies, women are more drawn to true crime series because we want to learn how to not be victims. People who are interested in learning about murders can find out who is more likely to be a murderer, how these crimes occur, and how to avoid becoming a victim themselves.
Every time I watch a true crime series, I think of ways to increase my chances of survival if I’m in the shoes of the victim. It’s like a very morbid dress rehearsal.
Is being obsessed with true crime a problem?
True crime shows are essentially cautionary tales warning people not to walk home alone or jog in secluded areas. Even though Singapore is way safer than most countries due to the laws in place, there are still some instances of murder happening. Being familiar with true crime tropes has equipped me with the knowledge of how to escape dangerous situations. That’s why I don’t see my hobby as a problem.
Do you have an interesting hobby? Share that with us below, and it might just get featured here!
