The Psychological Impact of Consuming True Crime

SERIAL, the hit podcast that birthed modern true crime as we know it, just turned eight years old. In the near-decade that’s come and gone, the genre it begat has become a full-on phenomenon. Podcasts, documentaries, limited series, limited series based on podcasts—it’s infiltrated the public psyche. In a few cases, this influx is positive; some true crime listeners/viewers report they’ve found solace in their favorite grim retellings. But what about everyone else?