Journalists Pierre-Philippe Berson and Ondine Millot discussed the psychological reasons behind the public's enduring fascination with true crime and serial killers [1].

This interest reflects a broader cultural trend where extreme narratives are consumed as entertainment, raising questions about the intersection of empathy and curiosity. Understanding these drivers helps explain the commercial success of true-crime media across podcasts and streaming platforms.

Berson, the editor-in-chief of a special issue titled “12 crimes en France,” and Millot, author of "Les monstres n'existent pas," explored these themes during an interview with France Inter [1]. They said that the appeal often stems from a fundamental human need to comprehend the nature of evil [1, 2].

According to the experts, the attraction to these stories is not merely about the violence itself. Instead, it involves a search for adrenaline and a way for audiences to identify with extreme narratives from a safe distance [1, 2]. This psychological mechanism allows viewers to process fear and mortality without being in actual danger.

Analysis from the Swiss publication Blick further supports these findings, suggesting that the fascination is rooted in a desire to understand the motives of those who commit atrocities [2]. By analyzing the behavior of serial killers, the public attempts to find a logic in the illogical, a way to categorize and predict danger in the real world.

Berson and Millot's work suggests that the "monster" archetype is often a projection. By studying these crimes, people explore the boundaries of human behavior, and the fragility of social norms [1]. The trend continues to grow as media outlets produce more detailed accounts of historical and contemporary crimes [1, 2].

“The fascination stems from a fundamental human need to comprehend the nature of evil.”

The rise of true-crime consumption indicates a shift in how society processes trauma and fear, moving from avoidance to active analysis. By framing serial killers as psychological puzzles to be solved, the public attempts to rationalize unpredictable violence, effectively using media as a tool for emotional regulation and risk assessment.