Why Women Are Twice as Likely to Consume True Crime Content

True crime series, films, documentaries, and podcasts continue to dominate global viewing and listening charts. From streaming platforms to bestseller lists, stories centered on real-life violence, disappearances, and criminal psychology attract millions of followers. Yet one striking pattern consistently stands out: women engage with true crime content at nearly twice the rate of men.

A new academic study published in the British Journal of Psychology offers one of the most comprehensive explanations to date for this gender gap, moving beyond stereotypes and cultural assumptions to examine the psychological motivations behind true crime consumption.

One of the Most Comprehensive Studies to Date

The research was conducted by scholars from Graz University in Austria, who analyzed why people consume true crime content and which psychological traits are associated with this interest. Drawing on data from more than 570 participants, the study represents one of the most detailed investigations yet into the mental and emotional drivers of true crime fascination.

The findings reveal a clear and consistent gender difference. Women were found to consume true crime content at roughly twice the rate of men, a pattern observed across formats such as podcasts, streaming platforms, television series, and books.

Rather than framing this difference as a matter of entertainment preference or morbid curiosity, the researchers identified a deeper psychological mechanism they describe as “defensive vigilance.”

Understanding “Defensive Vigilance”

According to the study, defensive vigilance refers to an individual’s heightened awareness of potential threats and a desire to understand dangers to better prepare for real-life situations. The researchers suggest that for many women, true crime content functions less as passive entertainment and more as an informal learning tool.

The study notes that true crime narratives allow viewers and listeners to analyze warning signs, recognize risky situations, and observe how crimes unfold. For women, who statistically face higher perceived risks of certain types of violence, this information gathering may serve a protective purpose.

The researchers emphasized that humanity’s fascination with violence, deviance, and murder has long existed, yet the psychological underpinnings of this interest have remained surprisingly underexplored. This study aims to fill that gap by grounding true crime consumption in established psychological frameworks rather than speculation.

Motivation Behind Women’s Interest in True Crime

One of the study’s most significant conclusions is that women’s interest in true crime is often driven by a desire to learn how to stay safe in real life. Compared with men, women were more likely to report engaging with true crime content as a way to understand threats, recognize dangerous behavior, and mentally rehearse responses to potential risks.

The researchers stated that women’s heightened consumption may be explained by “perceived victimization risks and a desire to acquire information that could help prevent real-life attacks.” In this sense, true crime becomes a form of proactive risk assessment rather than a fascination with violence itself.

This interpretation challenges common misconceptions that portray female true crime audiences as being motivated by fear, paranoia, or a dark curiosity. Instead, the study situates women’s interest within the framework of adaptive behavior.

Supporting Evidence From Previous Research

The gender gap identified in the Graz University study aligns with earlier findings from institutions such as the Pew Research Center. Pew’s 2023 data showed that women are nearly twice as likely as men to regularly listen to true crime podcasts, reinforcing the consistency of this pattern across different countries and media formats.

Until recently, such differences were often attributed to vague cultural explanations or media trends. The new research, however, provides a psychological basis for understanding why these preferences persist over time and across platforms.

An Evolutionary Psychology Perspective

The researchers also draw on evolutionary psychology to contextualize their findings. From this perspective, gathering information about threats has historically played a crucial role in survival. For women, paying close attention to signs of danger and learning from others’ experiences may function as a long-term safety strategy.

The study argues that labeling this behavior as irrational fear or obsession overlooks its practical logic. Instead, true crime consumption can be seen as a way to mentally map risks, evaluate human behavior, and increase situational awareness.

Researchers caution against misinterpreting this vigilance as paranoia. They suggest that what appears to be a fascination with dark subject matter may, in fact, reflect a rational response to perceived vulnerability in social environments.

Beyond Entertainment: A Tool for Awareness

The findings suggest that true crime content serves different purposes for different audiences. While some consumers may engage for storytelling or suspense, many women appear to use these narratives to extract lessons about personal safety, warning signs, and behavioral patterns associated with real-world threats.

This distinction helps explain why true crime remains particularly popular among female audiences despite its often disturbing subject matter. Rather than being deterred by graphic details, some viewers may view the information as empowering.