Are YOU obsessed with true crime shows? There is a biological reason for your morbid curiosity about documentaries like The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and Night Stalker

Shows about Jeffrey Dahmer, The Night Stalker and other well-known serial killers have become widely popular in recent years and while the curiosity may seem morbid, experts say there is a biological reason for it.

An expert revealed that watching true crime shows is our way of preparing for similar situations in the real world. 

Such content ‘can have a learning component to it or at least a perceived learning component,’ said Coltan Scrivner, a research scientist at Denmark’s Recreational Fear Lab.

Scrivner also explained that this fascination likely began around 300,000 years ago when humans began using language and engaging in proactive aggression instead of reactive aggression. 

These notions coincide with a new poll of 2,000 self-reported true crime fans, which found that 76 percent feel that consuming content about true crime helps them avoid similar situations happening to them.

‘Now this presents a problem for people because with proactive aggression, it’s hard to tell who is plotting to harm you,’ said Scrivner. 

‘So this put a selection pressure on our minds to learn to seek out information about people who are potentially dangerous.

‘True crime can have a learning component to it or at least a perceived learning component. 

‘We feel like we’re more prepared in these kinds of situations. 

‘So if this dangerous situation were to occur, you feel a little more prepared and know what you should or shouldn’t do.’

Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story was released on September 21, 2022  and instantly shot up to the top spot on Netflix’s Top 10 List.

The series was centered on the prolific serial killer’s crimes, which occurred between 1978 and 1991.

The criminal and cannibal, who was ultimately beaten to death in prison in 1994, was portrayed by Ryan Peters, who previously collaborated with Murphy on several seasons of American Horror Story.

Experts said this obsession in such stories and serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer (pictured) stems from around 300,000 years ago when humans began to interact proactively agressive