This is a great article that highlights and humanizes the many reasons people, particularly women, enjoy consuming true crime. I would have liked a little more data in this article or maybe a link to a second article, but I do think the psycological viewpoint this article is written from is great and informative. It covers the vast reasons people watch and listen to true crime including: curiosity about human behavior, justice, and legal systems, how to keep yourself safe, and bringing a sense of calm and control to people if they ever did find themselves in a horrible situation like those discussed in true crime content.
I thought it was super interesting that the article pointed out that, "Women generally exhibit greater levels of empathy and emotional sensitivity. True crime dramas often evoke emotional responses as they highlight suffering, emotional toll, and aspects of justice. As women, we may find themselves drawn to these stories, relating to the victims or understanding the psychological nuances of the criminals” because I feel like there is a sterotype against women who enjoy true crime. Some people believe that women who enjoy true crime are "sick" and feel excessive empathy for criminals and even feel romantic/sexual feelings towards them, and so this take was refreshing. Women are often the victim of violent crimes and I think this highlights womens desire to understand and process those emotions.