International Journal of
Advanced Multidisciplinary Application

Volume 3, Issue 6

• Author(s)Harsha Vardhan Alagari
• AffiliationMedical Undergraduate, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, India
• Page No.16-20
• Volume, Issue & YearVolume 3, Issue 6, June 2026
• Published On2026/06/03
• JournalInternational Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Application (IJAMA)
• ISSN No.3048-9350

Abstract

The global proliferation of true crime media across several forms such as podcasts, docuseries, movies, literature, and social media has prompted academic interest in the behavioral, psychological, and sociological motivations of its consumers. This paper argues that such engagement is rooted in well-established psychological mechanisms rather than mere fascination or deviant tendencies, as a considerable amount of research frequently stigmatizes this behavior as a pathological condition. Integrating Parasocial Interaction Theory [1], Morbid Curiosity [2], Terror Management Theory [3], and Uses and Gratifications Theory [4], this theoretical analysis deconstructs how audiences cultivate quasi-intimate relationships with offenders, process existential dread, and eventually derive entertainment utility from true crime media. Ultimately, these findings demonstrate parasocial bonding that mirrors celebrity veneration and how it is mediated via narrative proximity, glorification of offenders, and media framing. The insights carry implications for media psychology, public health communication, and ethical responsibilities of entertainment production.

Keywords: parasocial interaction, true crime, morbid curiosity, terror management theory, uses and gratifications, serial killer, media psychology

References

1. 1. Horton, D., & Wohl, R. R. (1956). Mass communication and para-social interaction: Observations on intimacy at a distance. Psychiatry, 19(3), 215-229.
2. 2. Zuckerman, M. (1979). Sensation seeking: Beyond the optimal level of arousal. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
3. 3. Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T., & Solomon, S. (1986). The causes and consequences of a need for self-esteem: A terror management theory. In Public self and private self (pp. 189-212). Springer, New York, NY.
4. 4. Katz, E., Blumler, J. G., & Gurevitch, M. (1973). Uses and gratifications research. The Public Opinion Quarterly, 37(4), 509-523.
5. 5. Triton Digital. (2025). 2024 U.S. Podcast Report. https://tritondigital.com/press-releases/January-28-2025/triton-digital-releases-2024-u-s-podcast-report
6. 6. Boling, K. S. (2018). True crime podcasting: Uses and gratifications of a growing audio genre. Journal of Radio & Audio Media, 25(2), 234-249.
7. 7. Vicary, A. M., & Fraley, R. C. (2010). Captured by true crime: Why are women drawn to tales of rape, murder, and serial killers? Social Psychological and Personality Science, 1(1), 81-86.
8. 8. Giles, D. C. (2002). Parasocial interaction: A review of the literature and a model for future research. Media Psychology, 4(3), 279-305.
9. 9. Scrivner, C. (2022). The psychology of morbid curiosity: Development and initial validation of the morbid curiosity scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 184, 111186.
10. 10. Schmid, D. (2005). Natural born celebrities: Serial killers in American culture. University of Chicago Press.
11. 11. Wikipedia. (n.d.). Hybristophilia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybristophilia
12. 12. Becker, E. (1973). The denial of death. Free Press.
13. 13. Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S., & Greenberg, J. (2015). Thirty years of terror management theory: From the armchair to the clinic. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 52, 1-70.

Explore Our Related Journals

Looking for the right journal for your next manuscript? Explore our international peer-reviewed journals covering engineering, management, computer science, artificial intelligence and multidisciplinary research.