Podcast Summary
Morbid Curiosity: Dr. Colton Scrivener's research shows people with high morbid curiosity tend to be above average in sensation-seeking and openness, and the CAME scale is a tool to measure this curiosity about unpleasant things.
Our fascination with unpleasant things, especially death, is a common curiosity that exists in many people. This morbid curiosity can manifest in various ways, such as an interest in horror movies, horror stories, and true crime documentaries. Dr. Colton Scrivener, a leading expert on the science of horror, true crime, and morbid curiosity, defines it as an interest in or curiosity about unpleasant things. He has conducted extensive research on this topic and found that people who score high in morbid curiosity tend to be in the slightly above average range for sensation-seeking. They also have high openness and curiosity. The CAME scale, created by Zuckerman in 1986, is a tool used to measure this curiosity about morbid and sexual events. While the scale hasn't been used much since then, it remains an important contribution to the field of psychology. Whether you identify as a "bleeding heart horror fan" or not, understanding the science behind morbid curiosity can provide fascinating insights into human behavior.
Morbid Curiosity Clusters: Dr. Colton Scrivener identified 4 clusters of morbid curiosity: violence, intentions of dangerous people, bodily injuries, and paranormal, which all load onto a single trait called morbid curiosity, suggesting it's rooted in our attention to threatening things.
Dr. Colton Scrivener, in response to feeling that an existing scale focusing on morbid curiosity and violence was too narrow, created a new scale in 2021 to explore the concept further. He identified four clusters of morbid curiosity: an interest in violence, an interest in the intentions of dangerous people, an interest in bodily injuries or body violations, and an interest in the paranormal. Through factor analysis and validation studies, these clusters were found to load onto a single trait called morbid curiosity. The findings highlight that morbid curiosity may be rooted in our attention to things that are threatening and learning about them.
Morbid Curiosity vs. Psychopathic Tendencies: Morbid curiosity and psychopathic tendencies are distinct; while morbid curiosity is a normal trait, psychopathic tendencies lack empathy and compassion.
While morbid curiosity is a common trait in humans, it becomes a red flag when it's fueled by a lack of empathy and psychopathic tendencies, as seen in the case of Jeffrey Dahmer. Research suggests that there is no correlation between morbid curiosity and empathy or compassion. The only difference is that while regular people watch horror movies for entertainment, serial killers like Dahmer act out their curiosity in real life. It's essential to distinguish morbid curiosity from psychopathic tendencies and understand the nuances of individual differences in personality traits.
Horror fan empathy: Contrary to belief, horror fans exhibit cognitive empathy and there's no strong negative correlation between enjoying horror media and having empathy or compassion
Contrary to popular belief, there is no strong correlation between being a horror fan and having low empathy or compassion. In fact, some studies suggest a small positive correlation between horror fanhood and cognitive empathy. The finding that morbidly curious individuals score low on cold-heartedness, a trait often associated with psychopathy, is intriguing and may challenge our assumptions about the relationship between curiosity and dark personality traits. The study "Bleeding Heart Horror Fans" further supports this notion, as it found no negative association between enjoyment of horror media and empathy or compassion. It's important to note that subclinical psychopathy, which may be related to this finding, is a complex construct that warrants further investigation. Overall, these findings suggest that curiosity and empathy are not mutually exclusive and that horror fans may be more adept at perspective taking, which is crucial for enjoying horror media.
Anxiety and Morbid Curiosity correlation: Anxiety and morbid curiosity share a positive correlation, both involving heightened interest in potential threats and the appeal of interacting with potentially manipulative individuals for learning purposes
There is a positive correlation between anxiety and morbid curiosity, and this relationship may also extend to interests in BDSM and attraction to individuals with dark personalities. This correlation can be explained by the fact that both anxiety and morbid curiosity involve a heightened interest in and vigilance towards potential threats in one's environment. Furthermore, the ease of short-term dating in modern times may make it more appealing for individuals to interact with potentially manipulative or deceptive individuals, allowing them to learn about these individuals' tactics and better identify them in the future when seeking long-term mates. The attraction to such individuals may not be based on positive affect, but rather on behavioral curiosity.
Motivations in romantic relationships: The 'dark triad' personality type, characterized by manipulation and attractiveness, can confuse lust and fear in women, leading to potential risks in relationships. Culture and personal interest also play a role.
Understanding the motivations behind human behavior, particularly in romantic relationships, can be complex and multifaceted. The discussion touched upon the concept of the "dark triad" personality type, which can be manipulative and attractive to some individuals. Lust and fear can sometimes be confused, leading women to be attracted to these men without fully realizing the potential risks. The speakers also mentioned the influence of culture and personal interest in these situations. Additionally, the topic of haunted houses was brought up as an interesting area of research for understanding human reactions to fear and attraction. Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of being aware of our motivations and the potential influence of external factors on our behavior and relationships.
Curiosity and learning in extreme haunts: Extreme haunts offer adrenaline rushes, sense of mastery, and learning opportunities about dangerous individuals and fear reactions. They also help increase resiliency and emotional intelligence, but prioritize consent and safety.
The appeal of extreme haunts and horror experiences can be explained through the lens of curiosity and learning. Some individuals seek out these experiences for the adrenaline rush and sense of mastery they provide, while others are drawn to the dangerous individuals behind them, such as serial killers. These individuals can't harm the participants in real life, making it a safe way to learn about dangerous people and understand one's own reactions to fear and anxiety. Additionally, these experiences can help increase resiliency and emotional intelligence. However, it's important to note that consent and safety should always be prioritized in these situations. The line between play and harm can be blurred, and it's crucial to ensure that participants are in control and can end the experience whenever they choose.
Morbid Curiosity: Humans are naturally drawn to negative or disturbing information due to a negativity bias and social bias, with the brain processing negative stimuli in a rewarding way, potentially for survival and learning.
Humans have a natural inclination towards morbid curiosity, which is the fascination with negative or disturbing information. This curiosity is driven by both a negativity bias and a social bias, making negative social images particularly appealing. From a neurobiological perspective, the brain processes negative stimuli in a way that is rewarding, engaging similar brain regions as those that support extrinsic incentives and regular curiosity. This may be an evolutionary adaptation for survival and learning, as observing predators or threats can provide valuable information. Morbid curiosity is distinct from being the perpetrator of harm and is a separate system that humans use to learn and imagine different scenarios, including apocalyptic situations. Understanding this phenomenon sheds light on human behavior and provides insight into why some individuals are more fascinated by negative information than others.
Podcast Topics: Podcasts offer a wide range of topics and perspectives, from entertaining and lighthearted to thought-provoking and emotional, allowing listeners to learn, laugh, and cry.
Podcasts offer a diverse range of topics and perspectives, from the lighthearted and entertaining, like the Scandal Rewatch Podcast "Unpacking the Toolbox," to the thought-provoking and insightful, like neuroscientist David Eagleman's "Inner Cosmos." Hosts Katie Lowe and Guillermo Diaz share their love for Scandal and behind-the-scenes stories, while David Eagleman invites listeners to explore the mysteries of the brain. Radi Devluke's "A Really Good Cry" encourages listeners to embrace their emotions and tune into their bodies. Whether you're looking for a good laugh, a deep dive into a topic, or a chance to connect with your feelings, there's a podcast out there for you. So, grab your headphones, find a comfortable spot, and prepare to learn, laugh, and cry. Listen to "Unpacking the Toolbox," "Inner Cosmos," and "A Really Good Cry" on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.