Hype Behind TV Crime
Most would agree that humans are pretty curious creatures. I would agree that we’re just straight up nosey. So when we’re offered a chance to immerse ourselves in a situation where we are given inside information, a whole team of experts, and a “who done it” mindsight, few are ready to pass up that offer.
From a scientific approach, it makes sense that as a society we are so obsessed with these shows. Not only do they give us insight to potential dangers in society, but they also show us how to react to these situations, although not always accurately. Our minds believe we are preparing ourselves for the worst while also enjoying the entertainment that comes with shows like Criminal Minds, Blacklist, and one of my current favorites, Only Murders in the Building. PhotoSource
Psychology Today makes a 4-point argument about society’s obsession with “binging crime shows.” From the thrill that comes with chasing adrenaline to the engagement of our mind, they have some sound reasoning for becoming a passionate TV Crime Drama expertise.
If you’re beginning to think Crime Drama shows may be right for you, check out the folks over at Stacker for a list of the 50 Best Crime TV Shows. You’ll see a few of my favs along with some on my “binge-watch soon” list.
I know I just called everyone nosey for watching crime shows, but I am no exception. My whole life I have been obsessed with the intricate aspects of these shows and even hope to shape a career around it. Before applying to Penn State I had sent an email to admissions explaining that I would like to become a forensic psychologist and was wondering if I could get a forensics minor here. I received what I viewed as a passive aggressive response that forensic psychology isn’t just “real life Criminal Minds” and I wouldn’t get a job like “you see in those shows.”
What a dream-crushing reality that was for me to face. With that being said, I am currently planning on double majoring in psychology and criminology. My stubborn side believes there is still hope for me to become the next Elizabeth Keen. 
So why do I watch so many crime shows? (Why, thank you so much for asking). Personally, nothing scratches my brain as much as the pure satisfaction I receive from solving a crime before the resolution is revealed to the audience. I’m an innate problem-solver and a showoff who takes pride in predicting the endings of shows, hence also being my family’s greatest annoyance during movie nights.
In the next few weeks I plan on combining my immense knowledge of crime shows and information I collected within psychology and criminology to analyze TV Crime Dramas. The posts will range from show reviews, testing the accuracy of TV crime, the effects of these dramas, and whatever else I can come up with.
I encourage all of my fellow TV Crime Drama Nerds to follow along with my adventure of rants and rambles involving some of the best shows on earth.
(in case you’re a literal nerd and not just a crime show one, take this Buzzfeed quiz for extra credit)
Which Criminal Minds Character are You?
As for myself, I am not a huge crime show nerd. The most I watched was Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. I’m a little intrigued by where this blog will go as I am not well varsed in crime shows.
I’m so glad I got the chance to find and dive into your blog as I love everything related to true crime. I relate to a lot of what you’re saying about even curating your future career and educational goals based off of what we see in these shows. On the writing side, I love how descriptive your sentences are, particularly where you mentioned that solving a crime “scratches your brain”. It’s a far more interesting way of saying that it intrigues you, and as a reader, it made me fall even more in love with your writing!
Firstly, I love your style of writing! It is so interesting and engaging, and hooked me immediately. I can tell you are very passionate about criminology, and it is fun to be able to read about your experiences (especially when you emailed Penn State – that’s so sad!). I also loved how you really delved deep into why people love crime shows. I used to binge watch Criminal Minds with my family last summer, and we would always come up with our own predictions of “who did it” and “what happened” while we were watching each episode. It was a fun way of using context clues, foreshadowing, and previous knowledge to test our brains. I also find I love to watch crime for the suspense, to know something bad is about to happen but not know what. I hear so much about infamous serial killers, but not enough about their background or victims, and want to know more. Honestly, I find it weird that so many people are interested in true crime, but since I am one of those people, I can’t really say much about it!
Your introduction to this post had me hooked. I too am a victim of binging crime shows like Criminal Minds, and your vivid description of that weird feeling when binging through the use of expressive verbs was scarily accurate. The psychology behind the popularity of these shows is really odd because although some of the events in the show may not be particularly true, they have still most likely happened at some point. This reality makes it weird we use these stories for entertainment, but obviously we like it for some reason.