Dahmer on My Mind: Why We Can’t Stop Watching True Crime Shows
It seems like everyone I know is talking about the new Netflix series, “Dahmer on My Mind.” The show chronicles the life of notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer and has been hailed as one of the most successful true crime series of all time. But why are we so obsessed with these types of shows? Is it the gruesome details? The tantalizing mystery? Or is it something more fundamental, something that speaks to our very nature as human beings?
True crime shows have always been popular, but in recent years, they’ve exploded in popularity.
One theory is that our current climate of anxiety and uncertainty has made us more interested in stories about real-life monsters. We’re living in a time when faceless evils like terrorism and climate change seem to be looming over us, and perhaps watching stories about real-life villains helps us feel like we have some control over the chaos.
Another theory is that we’re simply hardwired to be interested in stories about murder and mayhem. From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes sense that we would be drawn to tales of danger and death. After all, for most of human history, life was nasty and short. It’s only natural that we would be intrigued by stories about the dark side of human nature.
Whatever the reason for our obsession, there’s no denying that true crime shows are here to stay. So next time you find yourself unable to tear yourself away from another episode of “Making a Murderer,” just remember that you’re not alone—we’re all addicted to these stories of murder and mayhem. And maybe that’s not such a bad thing after all.
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