DiscoverThe ExcerptLove gore and horror, the dark and scary? There’s a scientific reason why.
Love gore and horror, the dark and scary? There’s a scientific reason why.

Love gore and horror, the dark and scary? There’s a scientific reason why.

Update: 2025-10-31
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True crime, horror movies, even haunted houses — psychologist Coltan Scrivner says they all tap into a survival instinct. He explains how morbid curiosity evolved to help humans face threats and why those drawn to darkness might be more compassionate than we think.

Episode transcript available here.

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Love gore and horror, the dark and scary? There’s a scientific reason why.

Love gore and horror, the dark and scary? There’s a scientific reason why.