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    The Dark Attraction: Why We're Drawn to Death, Crime, and Danger

    11 min
    |
    37 источников
    |
    22 сент. 2025 г.
    PsychologyScienceSelf-growth

    Why can't we look away from true crime? Explore the psychology behind our morbid fascination through Coltan Scrivner's research, Andrew Huberman's neuroscience, and Ernest Becker's 'Denial of Death.' Discover how this seemingly dark attraction serves evolutionary purposes and why women are twice as likely to consume true crime content.

    The Dark Attraction: Why We're Drawn to Death, Crime, and Danger

    Этот аудиоурок был создан участником сообщества BeFreed

    Вопрос для ввода

    Why are we so fascinated by true crime and dangerous things?

    Голоса ведущих
    Niaplay
    Jacksonplay
    Источники знаний
    With the End in Mind
    link
    https://www.befreed.ai/book/with-the-end-in-mind-by-kathryn-mannix
    You Only Die Once
    link
    https://www.befreed.ai/book/you-only-die-once-by-jodi-wellman
    The Denial of Death
    link
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2761
    The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life
    link
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26244923-the-worm-at-the-core
    The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence
    link
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2032856.The_Gift_of_Fear
    The Science of Fear: How the Culture of Fear Manipulates Your Brain
    link
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6499771-the-science-of-fear

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    Создано выпускниками Колумбийского университета в Сан-Франциско

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    "Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

    @Moemenn
    platform
    star
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    "I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

    @Chloe, Solo founder, LA
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    117

    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

    @Raaaaaachelw
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
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    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

    @Matt, YC alum
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    comments
    12
    likes
    108

    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
    platform
    comments
    254
    likes
    17

    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

    @Pitiful
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    96
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    4.5K

    "BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

    @SofiaP
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    "BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

    @Jaded_Falcon
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    "It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

    @OojasSalunke
    platform
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    star
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    "The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

    @Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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    37
    likes
    483

    "Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

    @Cashflowbubu
    platform
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    star
    star
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    "Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

    @Moemenn
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    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

    @Chloe, Solo founder, LA
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    117

    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

    @Raaaaaachelw
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

    @Matt, YC alum
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    108

    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
    platform
    comments
    254
    likes
    17

    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

    @Pitiful
    platform
    comments
    96
    likes
    4.5K

    "BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

    @SofiaP
    platform
    star
    star
    star
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    star

    "BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

    @Jaded_Falcon
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    thumbsUp
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    "It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

    @OojasSalunke
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

    @Leo, Law Student, UPenn
    platform
    comments
    37
    likes
    483

    "Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

    @Cashflowbubu
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

    @Moemenn
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

    @Chloe, Solo founder, LA
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    117

    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

    @Raaaaaachelw
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

    @Matt, YC alum
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    108

    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
    platform
    comments
    254
    likes
    17

    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

    @Pitiful
    platform
    comments
    96
    likes
    4.5K

    "BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

    @SofiaP
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

    @Jaded_Falcon
    platform
    comments
    201
    thumbsUp
    16

    "It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

    @OojasSalunke
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

    @Leo, Law Student, UPenn
    platform
    comments
    37
    likes
    483

    "Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

    @Cashflowbubu
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star
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    Избранные книги
    Crucial ConversationsThe Perfect MarriageInto the WildNever Split the DifferenceAttachedGood to GreatSay Nothing
    Популярные категории
    Self HelpCommunication SkillRelationshipMindfulnessPhilosophyInspirationProductivity
    Списки чтения знаменитостей
    Elon MuskCharlie KirkBill GatesSteve JobsAndrew HubermanJoe RoganJordan Peterson
    Коллекция наград
    Pulitzer PrizeNational Book AwardGoodreads Choice AwardsNobel Prize in LiteratureNew York TimesCaldecott MedalNebula Award
    Избранные темы
    ManagementAmerican HistoryWarTradingStoicismAnxietySex
    Лучшие книги по годам
    2025 Best Non Fiction Books2024 Best Non Fiction Books2023 Best Non Fiction Books
    Инструменты обучения
    Knowledge VisualizerAI Podcast Generator
    Избранные авторы
    Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieGeorge OrwellO. J. SimpsonBarbara O'NeillWinston ChurchillCharlie Kirk
    BeFreed vs другие приложения
    BeFreed vs. Other Book Summary AppsBeFreed vs. ElevenReaderBeFreed vs. ReadwiseBeFreed vs. Anki
    Информация
    О насarrow
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    Ключевые выводы

    1

    The Allure of the Macabre

    0:00

    Nia: Welcome to the BeFreed Podcast, where we distill the world's best sources into personalized insights you can actually finish. I'm Nia, and today we're exploring a topic that's both unsettling and fascinating.

    0:14

    Jackson: And I'm Jackson! We're diving into something that's probably happened to all of us-finding ourselves three hours deep into a true crime documentary at 2 AM, or doom-scrolling through horrific headlines even though we know we should stop. Why are we so drawn to death, crime, and danger?

    0:31

    Nia: Exactly! It's like we can't look away. And it turns out there's fascinating psychology behind this seemingly morbid attraction. We've pulled insights from researchers like Coltan Scrivner, who developed the Morbid Curiosity Scale, and neurobiologist Andrew Huberman's work on fear circuits and dopamine.

    0:49

    Jackson: Plus classic works like Ernest Becker's "The Denial of Death" and modern research on why true crime podcasts have become the most popular podcast genre in America-especially among women. Let's unpack this psychological puzzle!

    2

    Curiosity as Survival: The Information Gap Theory

    3

    Fear Circuits and the Pleasure of Being Scared

    4

    Mortality Awareness and Meaning-Making

    5

    The Pandora Effect: When Curiosity Hurts

    6

    From Fascination to Wisdom: Using the Draw Productively

    7

    The Upside of Darkness: Finding Balance

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