Why do we rubberneck accidents and binge true crime? Behavioral scientist Coltan Scrivner explains the surprising psychology behind our morbid curiosity.Full show notes and resources can be found here: <a href="https://jordanharbinger.com/1276" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jordanharbinger.com/1276</a>What We Discuss with Coltan Scrivner:<ul><li>Morbid curiosity isn't a character flaw — it's an evolutionary feature. The same instinct that makes us rubberneck at accidents helped our ancestors learn about threats without becoming victims themselves. It's your brain's built-in threat-assessment system, gathering intel from a safe distance.</li><li>Horror movies work because of a specific formula: an overwhelmingly powerful villain versus a vulnerable protagonist. That imbalance — think Pennywise hunting kids or Jason stalking camp counselors — triggers our threat-detection systems in ways action films simply can't replicate.</li><li>True crime's massive female audience isn't random. Women face threats primarily from people they know, so their curiosity focuses on spotting danger signals and understanding how predators operate. Men, who historically face violence from strangers, gravitate toward watching combat simulations like UFC.</li><li>Decades of research and millions of dollars confirm: violent video games don't create violent people. The Mortal Kombat moral panic of the nineties produced the ESRB rating system — but the generation raised on those pixelated fatalities turned out just fine.</li><li>Engaging with scary play — whether horror films, spooky games, or even childhood tag — actually builds emotional resilience. Kids who experience controlled fear learn to regulate anxiety, giving them psychological tools to handle real-world stress as adults. So don't skip the haunted house.</li><li>And much more...</li></ul><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1344999619?mt=2&ls=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here</a> — even one sentence helps! <ul><li>Sign up for <a href="https://jordanharbinger.com/course" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Six-Minute Networking</a> — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at <a href="https://jordanharbinger.com/course" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jordanharbinger.com/course</a>!</li><li>Subscribe to our once-a-week <a href="https://www.jordanharbinger.com/news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wee Bit Wiser</a> newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!</li><li>Do you even Reddit, bro? <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/JordanHarbinger/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Join us at r/JordanHarbinger</a>!</li></ul>This Episode Is Brought To You By <a href="https://www.jordanharbinger.com/deals/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Our Fine Sponsors</a>: <ul><li>HelloFresh: <a href="https://hellofresh.com/jhs80" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get $80 off your first order at hellofresh.com/jhs80</a></li><li>Bombas: <a href="https://bombas.com/jordan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Go to bombas.com/jordan to get 20% off your first order</a></li><li>DeleteMe: <a href="https://joindeleteme.com/jordan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">20% off: joindeleteme.com/jordan, code JORDAN</a></li><li>Audible: <a href="https://audible.com/jhs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Visit audible.com/jhs or text JHS to 500-500</a></li><li>Homes.com: <a href="https://www.homes.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Find your home: homes.com</a></li></ul>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

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1276: Coltan Scrivner | The Evolutionary Logic of Morbid Curiosity

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