Curious Conversations 01

Why Do We Love True Crime?

C1-C2 Level | 50 minutes | 5 Key Expressions

Why Are Millions Obsessed with Murder?

True crime is a $1 BILLION industry

Every week, millions of people around the world listen to podcasts about serial killers, binge-watch documentaries about unsolved murders, and read books about the darkest crimes in human history. Why?

Research shows that women make up approximately 70% of true crime audiences. Psychologists suggest that women may be instinctively drawn to these stories as a form of threat assessment—learning how to recognize danger and avoid becoming victims themselves.

There's something morbidly fascinating about trying to understand what makes someone cross that line from ordinary person to criminal. We want to believe we could spot the warning signs, that we'd see it coming.

True crime taps into our evolutionary need to understand danger. In a safe environment (like listening to a podcast at home), we can explore fear without actual risk. It's the same psychology that makes horror movies popular.

But critics argue that we're glorifying violence by turning real tragedies into entertainment. They point out that real families are grieving while we treat their worst moments as content to consume.

Fans counter that true crime media often helps solve cold cases, brings attention to injustice, and gives victims' families a voice. There's something compelling about seeking justice for people who've been forgotten by the system.

Some Surprising Facts:

  • The podcast "Serial" was downloaded 340 million times
  • Netflix's true crime documentaries dominate their most-watched lists
  • True crime conventions attract thousands of attendees annually
  • Some criminologists credit true crime media with increased interest in forensic science careers
  • Several cold cases have been solved after true crime coverage brought new attention

Think About It:

  • Do YOU listen to true crime podcasts or watch these documentaries?
  • What do you think draws people in—or pushes them away?
  • Is there an ethical line we shouldn't cross?
  • Why do you think women are the majority of the audience?

Expressing Interest & Attraction

You just read about why millions are obsessed with true crime. Let's learn how to talk about this kind of fascination and interest.

Click each card to reveal the meaning and examples. Then try using it yourself!

1. "To be drawn to (something)"
Formality: Neutral
Meaning: To feel attracted or pulled toward something, often without fully understanding why. It suggests an almost magnetic quality—you're interested even if you can't explain it logically.
Example:
"I'm strangely drawn to true crime podcasts even though they sometimes give me nightmares. I can't explain why I keep listening."
NOW YOU TRY: What are YOU drawn to that you can't fully explain? (Could be true crime, could be anything—music genres, types of movies, hobbies, places...)
2. "Morbidly fascinating"
Formality: Informal to Neutral
Meaning: Interesting in a dark, disturbing, or grim way. You know it's dark content, but you can't look away. "Morbid" means related to death or disease, but we use this expression more broadly for anything grimly interesting.
Example:
"Serial killer documentaries are morbidly fascinating—I know it's dark and I probably shouldn't be this interested, but I can't stop watching."
NOW YOU TRY: What do you find morbidly fascinating? (Or if nothing—why do you think others are attracted to dark content?)
3. "It taps into..."
Formality: Neutral to Formal
Meaning: To connect with or activate a deeper feeling, need, or instinct. Like tapping into a water source or power supply—you're accessing something that was already there beneath the surface.
Example:
"True crime taps into our need to feel safe by understanding danger. It's like we're preparing ourselves for threats we hope we'll never face."
NOW YOU TRY: What does true crime tap into for you? (Or what does it NOT tap into—why aren't you interested?)

Quick Reference:

  • "I'm drawn to..." – feeling attracted without fully knowing why
  • "Morbidly fascinating" – interesting in a dark way
  • "It taps into..." – connects with a deeper need or instinct

Discussing Ethics & Criticism

Now let's look at how to express opinions about controversial aspects of true crime (or any controversial topic).

4. "We're glorifying..."
Formality: Neutral
Meaning: Making something seem better, more important, or more acceptable than it should be. Often used critically to say we're treating something too positively when we shouldn't.
Example:
"Some people worry we're glorifying violence by turning real murders into entertainment. They think we forget these were real people who suffered."
NOW YOU TRY: Do you think true crime glorifies violence, or does it serve a legitimate purpose? Where's the line?
5. "There's something compelling about..."
Formality: Neutral to Formal
Meaning: There's a quality that forces your attention or interest; you feel almost compelled to pay attention. Stronger than just "interesting"—it suggests you can't ignore it.
Example:
"There's something compelling about trying to understand criminal psychology. It's not just curiosity—it feels important to understand what humans are capable of."
NOW YOU TRY: What's compelling about [any topic that interests you—could be true crime, could be history, science, art, anything]?

All 5 Expressions:

  • "I'm drawn to..." – attracted without fully knowing why
  • "Morbidly fascinating" – interesting in a dark way
  • "It taps into..." – connects with deeper needs/instincts
  • "We're glorifying..." – making something seem better than it should
  • "There's something compelling about..." – quality that forces attention

Your Turn: Choose What to Discuss

Click 2-3 discussion topics below. These will naturally use the expressions you just learned.

Your True Crime Relationship
Do you listen to true crime podcasts or watch documentaries? What draws you in—or pushes you away? Have you always been interested, or did something change?
Use: "I'm drawn to..." / "It taps into..." / "Morbidly fascinating"
The Ethics Question
Is true crime entertainment ethical? Are we glorifying violence? Or does it serve a purpose—justice, awareness, education? Where's the line?
Use: "We're glorifying..." / "There's something compelling about..."
Gender & Fear
Why are 70% of true crime fans women? What does this tell us about fear, safety, and how different genders experience the world?
Use: "It taps into..." / "There's something compelling about..."
Your Dark Interests
What do YOU find morbidly fascinating? (Doesn't have to be true crime—could be medical procedures, disaster documentaries, historical tragedies...)
Use: "Morbidly fascinating..." / "I'm drawn to..."
Cultural Differences
How does your culture view true crime media? Is it popular? Taboo? What kinds of crime stories get attention in your country?
Use any expressions naturally
Where's The Line?
When does interest become obsession? Is there content that goes too far? What about crime scene photos, interviews with killers, conspiracy theories?
Use: "We're glorifying..." / "There's something compelling but..."

Your Selected Topics:

Click 2-3 cards above to select discussion topics...

Remember to use:

  • "I'm drawn to..."
  • "Morbidly fascinating"
  • "It taps into..."
  • "We're glorifying..."
  • "There's something compelling about..."

Deep Dive: Extended Discussion

Your Challenge:

Choose one question below and speak for 3-5 minutes. Try to use at least 3 of the expressions you learned today. Don't just answer—explore the question deeply, give examples, consider different perspectives.

The Popularity Question
Why do you think true crime has become so incredibly popular in the last decade? What does this say about modern society, our fears, or what we need?
The Personal Question
If someone you loved was a victim in a crime, how would you feel about their story becoming entertainment? Does this change your view of true crime media?
The Psychology Question
What draws us to dark content—true crime, horror, disaster documentaries? Is this a healthy way to process fear, or something we should be concerned about?
Select a challenge above to begin
3:00

Expressions to use:

  • "I'm drawn to..." / "It draws people in..."
  • "Morbidly fascinating"
  • "It taps into our..."
  • "We're glorifying..." / "We might be glorifying..."
  • "There's something compelling about..."

Wrap-Up: What You Learned Today

5 Expressions for Discussing Interest & Ethics

  1. "I'm drawn to..." – feel attracted without fully knowing why
  2. "Morbidly fascinating" – interesting in a dark, disturbing way
  3. "It taps into..." – connects with deeper feelings or instincts
  4. "We're glorifying..." – making something seem better than it should be
  5. "There's something compelling about..." – a quality that forces attention

Quick Reflection:

  • Which expressions did you use most naturally today?
  • Which ones feel harder to use in conversation?
  • Did discussing this topic change your view of true crime at all?

Using These in Real Life:

These expressions aren't just for true crime—you can use them for ANY topic involving fascination, attraction, or ethical questions:

  • "I'm drawn to minimalist design" / "I'm drawn to that kind of music"
  • "The history of pandemics is morbidly fascinating"
  • "Social media taps into our need for connection"
  • "Are we glorifying hustle culture?" / "Are we glorifying wealth?"
  • "There's something compelling about ancient civilizations"
Next Lesson: Why Do We Love Languages?
(Your journey with languages, polyglots, and linguistic curiosities)

Great Conversation Today!

Keep noticing how people talk about things they're fascinated by—you'll hear these expressions everywhere now.