Coltan Scrivner is a behavioral scientist, an expert on morbid curiosity in horror and true‑crime media, and an author.
Why are humans so curious about death? From car accidents to scary stories, roller coasters, and horror movies, some people are fascinated while others are repulsed. What draws us toward the very things we should naturally want to avoid?
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Yesterday
Who You Meet Down America’s Forgotten Backroads - Peter Santenello - #1132
Peter Santenello is an independent journalist, YouTuber, & author. Who are the forgotten people of rural America? The country’s political and moral divisions may stem not only from disagreement, but from distance, countless communities and subcultures living entirely separate liv ... Show More
1h 58m
Jul 30
Proof That The Lonely Chapter Works - Jett Franzen - #1130
Jett Franzen is a writer and YouTuber. What holds people back? Is it their mindset, environment, or circumstances? One overlooked factor is the ability to be alone. Solitude can build clarity and resilience, but too much can be destructive. So when is being alone a superpower, an ... Show More
1h 59m
Oct 2023
Why do we love scary movies? with Coltan Scrivner, PhD
October may be the month that our fascination with all things ghoulish and grisly reaches its peak, but for many people, a fascination with the darker side of life isn’t limited to Halloween. Coltan Scrivner, PhD, talks about why people are drawn to horror, true crime and other s ... Show More
33m 3s
Aug 2024
The Science of Morbid Curiosity w/ Dr. Coltan Scrivner
This week Scott is joined by true crime and morbid curiosity psychologist, Dr. Coltan Scrivner. Scott and Dr. Scrivner discuss how to determine your level of interest in morbid curiosity, why some people have a higher level of tolerance (and even attraction) to scary things, and ... Show More
1 h
Oct 2024
Exploring the Science of Spookiness at the Recreational Fear Lab
Why do so many of us love a good scare? Whether it’s horror movies, haunted houses or creepy podcasts, there’s something thrilling about feeling spooked—especially around Halloween. In this episode, host Rachel Feltman dives into our fascination with fear and morbid curiosity wit ... Show More
17m 32s
Aug 2025
Encore -- Why we choose to suffer, with Paul Bloom, PhD
Why do people like to watch scary movies or listen to sad songs? Why do we run marathons and raise children, even though both of those pursuits come with struggle and pain? Paul Bloom, PhD, discusses why suffering is linked to meaning in life, the connection between pleasure and ... Show More
23m 18s
Feb 2022
Why we choose to suffer, with Paul Bloom, PhD
Why do people like to watch scary movies or listen to sad songs? We do we run marathons and raise children, even though both of those pursuits come with struggle and pain? Dr. Paul Bloom discusses why suffering is linked to meaning in life, the connection between pleasure and pai ... Show More
21m 7s