Shows
Shelf Love: Romance Novel DiscourseMorbid Curiosity Meets Romance with Dr. Coltan ScrivnerAre readers of dark romance or bodice rippers more morbidly curious than those who read sweet romcoms? Is the allure of horror and scary romance similar. Dr. Coltan Scrivner joins Shelf Love to discuss his new book, “Morbidly Curious,” and its insights on why people are drawn to scary media. The conversation delves into how understanding morbid curiosity can provide new perspectives on romance readers, the stereotypes surrounding both horror and romance fans, and the psychological underpinnings of consuming these genres. Dr. Scrivner shares his research on formidability dynamics within horror, how horror media impacts its audience, and the surp...
2025-09-301h 02
Horror JoyThomas Ha on Meet Your MakerIn this episode of Meet Your Maker, hosts welcome Thomas Ha to discuss his forthcoming collection 'Uncertain Sons'.The conversation delves into Ha’s perspective on the intricate relationship between horror and joy, the cathartic and connective aspects of horror literature, and the experiential overlap between fear, happiness, and grief.Ha shares insights into his creative process, his multicultural background, and the welcoming nature of the horror community.Additionally, the role of independent presses, particularly Undertow Publications, in fostering innovative horror fiction is highlighted.The episode concludes with recommendations of short st...
2025-09-1537 min
FADE TO BLACK with Jimmy ChurchFADE to BLACK host: Jimmy Church guest: Coltan ScrivnerTonight, author, researcher and scientist Coltan Scrivner, PhD, joins us to discuss why we Crave the Creepy... this is a absolute Not-to-Miss conversation!!!
2025-09-102h 07
Modern Wisdom#984 - Coltan Scrivner - Why We’re Drawn to Death, Crime, & DangerColtan 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?
Expect to learn why humans are drawn to dark or morbid content and the evolutionary logic behind watching something that disturbs us, why there is a gender gap of who is more interested in morbid curiosity, wh...
2025-08-231h 06
Connecting Winnipeg with Hal AndersonWhat Can Be Done?Today we talk to
LOREN REMILLARD - PRESIDENT & CEO, WINNIPEG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
COLIN CRAIG - PRESIDENT, THINK TANK SECONDSTREET.ORG,
MARTIN FIRESTONE - PRESIDENT, TRAVEL SECURE, and
DR. COLTAN SCRIVNER - PSYCHOLOGIST, AUTHOR & MORBID CURIOSITY EXPERT
2025-08-1247 min
Giappone nel mondoPerché il Giappone Ama l'Orrore?Questa è una puntata speciale di Giappone nel Mondo, un approfondimento molto particolare ed elaborato a cui abbiamo dedicato più di un mese di lavoro, ricerca e scrittura. In questo episodio, Luca Valletta vi guida in un'indagine che parte da una misteriosa videocassetta finita nelle mani di Charlie Sheen e arriva al cuore della cultura pop giapponese, esplorando il complesso rapporto tra la violenza nei media e la criminalità nella vita reale.Analizzeremo il caso del film Guinea Pig 2: Flower of Flesh and Blood e del suo autore, il maestro dell'horror Hideshi Hino, per poi addentrarci in ciò che la...
2025-07-1421 min
God ForbidWe live in a world where horror is all too real. So why are horror movies breaking box office records?55 horror movies came out last year - more than one a week - the most of any year this century.But why would make-believe horror double its box office share in a decade which has seen real existential fear: wars, pandemics, and natural disasters.And what do movies that scare us have to do with religions that comfort us?Well, they’re both interested in what you believe, ask questions about evil, and want your attendance on a Sunday morning.GUESTS:BARBARA CREED Professor of Screen Studies at the University of Me...
2025-07-1154 min
Doing Well: The Wellbeing Science Insights PodcastColtan Scrivner, Ph.D.: Morbid Curiosity – Confronting The Upcoming Threats | Doing Well #73In an era marked by global uncertainty, it’s natural to feel a sense of anxiety about the future. So, this week on Doing Well: The Wellbeing Science Insights Podcast, host Lu Ngo interviews behavioral scientist Coltan Scrivner, Ph.D. on how the practice of morbid curiosity can, unexpectedly, offer benefits to our well-being.
Based at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark, Coltan Scrivner, Ph.D. investigates the evolutionary and psychological underpinnings of our fascination with the darker side of life. Impressively, Coltan Scrivner, Ph.D. is in the midst of writing his first bo...
2025-02-2841 minDoing Well: The Wellbeing Science Insights PodcastColtan Scrivner, Ph.D.: Morbid Curiosity – Confronting The Upcoming Threats | Doing Well #73In an era marked by global uncertainty, it’s natural to feel a sense of anxiety about the future. So, this week on Doing Well: The Wellbeing Science Insights Podcast, host Lu Ngo interviews behavioral scientist Coltan Scrivner, Ph.D. on how the practice of morbid curiosity can, unexpectedly, offer benefits to our well-being.
Based at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark, Coltan Scrivner, Ph.D. investigates the evolutionary and psychological underpinnings of our fascination with the darker side of life. Impressively, Coltan Scrivner, Ph.D. is in the midst of writing his first bo...
2025-02-2841 min
The Horror Heals PodcastHorror Fans' Morbid Curiosity UnmaskedIn this episode, Corey and Kendall sit down with Dr. Coltan Scrivner, a leading expert on the psychology of horror, morbid curiosity, and true crime. Coltan shares his journey from curious grad student to global thought leader, exploring why we’re drawn to the macabre, how horror can benefit mental health, and the fascinating science behind our fear-driven behaviors.Horror Fans' Morbid Curiosity UnmaskedColtan discusses:His upcoming book Morbidly Curious (releasing October 2025).The Eureka Springs Zombie Crawl and Nightmare in the Ozarks Film Festival.The evolution of horror villains like Freddy Krueger.How ho...
2024-12-0528 min
Scientific American Podcast: Science TalkExploring the Science of Spookiness at the Recreational Fear LabWhy 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 with Coltan Scrivner, a behavioral scientist at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark. They explore the evolutionary and psychological reasons behind why we’re drawn to the dark and eerie and why a dose of fear can be so much fun.Recommended reading:The Evolutionary Reasons We Are Draw...
2024-10-3017 min
Science QuicklyExploring the Science of Spookiness at the Recreational Fear LabWhy 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 with Coltan Scrivner, a behavioral scientist at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark. They explore the evolutionary and psychological reasons behind why we’re drawn to the dark and eerie and why a dose of fear can be so much fun.Recommended reading:The Evolutionary Reasons We Are Draw...
2024-10-3017 min
The Connection with Marty Moss-CoaneWhat drives our morbid curiosity‘Tis the season for ghouls, goblins, witches and ghosts. Halloween can be traced back to the Celts who marked the start of the cold, dark winter with bonfires, costumes and ritual celebrations to ward off the dead.
Coming up, why do we like to be frightened? Why do so many of us enjoy horror movies and roller coasters, devour crime stories and read fairy tales to our kids and grandkids. Our guest is behavioral scientist, Coltan Scrivner, who studies morbid curiosity, organizes zombie crawls and runs scary film festivals. He says scaring ourselves can have evolutionary and ps...
2024-10-2550 min
The Psychology PodcastThe Science of Morbid Curiosity w/ Dr. Coltan ScrivnerThis 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 how to spot a “bleeding-heart" horror fan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2024-08-151h 00
Out Of The Blank#1663 - Coltan ScrivnerColtan Scrivner is an author and behavioral scientist. He is a research fellow at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University. He has pioneered the psychological study of morbid curiosity and is an expert on the psychology of horror fandom and scary play. His research has been widely covered by news and media outlets, including National Geographic, Time, BBC, The Chicago Tribune, The Guardian, The New York Times, and Forbes.
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2024-06-2552 min
YIRA YIRANo llegamos a la sangre por causas técnicasLo único gracioso de la entrevista a Sánchez en Televisión Española fue ese tropiezo que le hizo apuntarse a sí mismo con verdad: «Tengo un punto de indignidad por lo que está pasando». Nunca antes se había visto, al menos en tiempos de paz, una actitud semejante hacia las instituciones como la que exhibió al señalar la «sede social» de esa fantasmagórica máquina del fango en la Comunidad de Madrid. La espiral del odio a la que contribuye el presidente del Gobierno le da qué pensar, ahora que está trabajando en un libro donde la Gu...
2024-06-1345 min
The Dumb AF PodcastSerial Killers Don't Watch True CrimeWe're tackling the twisted world of true crime and the myth that serial killers steer clear of their own genre. With behavioral scientist and author Coltan Scrivner on deck, we're diving deep into the minds of those who love to explore the darkest corners of humanity.Ever wondered why true crime aficionados are hooked? Or if binge-watching documentaries makes you more empathetic or a potential psychopath? From dissecting our fascination with gore to pondering the future of horror, we're leaving no stone unturned.And let's not forget the age-old debate: Does media violence breed real-life violence...
2024-05-1055 min
Why Do We Do That?#052 - Morbid Curiosity with Dr. Coltan ScrivnerIn this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with behavioral scientist Dr. Coltan Scrivner about morbid curiosity. They discuss the different domains of morbid curiosity, if morbidly curious people are less empathetic, what attracts us to horror & true crime content, and potential benefits of being curious about danger.
For more on Coltan, visit www.coltanscrivner.com or subscribe to his Substack, Morbidly Curious Thoughts.
Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work.
2024-05-0650 min
Curated Questions: Conversations Celebrating the Power of Questions!Mental Health Compassion and Choosing to Be Curious | Lynn Borton #03"Choosing to be curious is acting on the idea that there's opportunity in the unknown, which becomes an invitation." - Lynn BortonLynn Borton is the creator and host of the podcast and Pacifica Network radio show "Choose to be Curious." Lynn is a facilitator—of conversations and transformation—with more than 30 years of experience in strategic governance and change management in the non-profit sector. Combining science, organizational learning, and leadership development, Lynn is working to synthesize the study of curiosity into something we can all appreciate: an exciting path to greater personal well-being, professional succe...
2024-02-0755 min
Be AfraidThis Is as Close to Hell as I Ever Wanna GetThis week on Be Afraid, we break the fourth wall, moving from the world of horror fiction to the world of nonfiction. As we do, we consider the real stuff, the stuff movies are made of, the stuff horror movies are made of. By examining the phenomenon of real-world exorcisms, we ask how it is that we can be both skeptical and scared. Joining us this week:Dr. David Taylor is Associate Professor of Theology and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary. Rob Clark is the minister to youth and children at University Place Pr...
2023-10-2751 min
Speaking of PsychologyWhy do we love scary movies? with Coltan Scrivner, PhDOctober 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 scary genres; and whether terrifying entertainment can actually be good for some people’s mental health and leave them better equipped to handle real-life challenges. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
2023-10-2533 min
Be AfraidWhat's Your Favorite Scary Movie?This week on Be Afraid, we walk through the various sub-genres of horror and consider the ways in which different kinds of horror films not only reflect our wide-ranging fears, but also provide us with models for responding to the undeniable horrors of real life.More from Kutter Callaway on theology and culture: https://www.kuttercallaway.com/More from Uncommon Voices Collective: https://www.uncommonvoices.faith/More from Qoholeth: https://qohelethnoise.bandcamp.comJoining us this week:Wes Craven is a well known American filmmaker who is considered by...
2023-10-131h 18
Learn English with: My Life and Other Funny StoriesEp.26: Why Is Everyone (Including Me) So Obsessed with Murder Documentaries?Murder documentaries, murder podcasts, books, videos and I don't know what. Netflix is full of it as well - stories about murders and murderers are everywhere and I was wondering: why is everyone (including me) so interested and obsessed with it? Why are we so attracted to those stories? You can find out in today's episode.⭐Přepis, slovíčka a kvíz: TADY⭐ Napiš mi zprávu, jak se ti to líbilo TADY (@dagmar–tomaskova)email: dajka.tomaskova@gmail.comSources (Zdroje):Scrivner, Coltan. “The...
2023-10-1310 min
Horror Movie TalkThe Descent Review & Coltan Scrivner InterviewThe Descent is more than a decent movie, it's phenomenal. It doesn't play it safe by making just a straight ahead monster movie, it delves into many different kinds of phobias along the way.
Synopsis
The Descent starts out similar to my favorite porn, with a team of international women out in the woods. They go caving in an uncharted cave system in the Appalachians. Quickly their expedition goes sideways when a cave in happens and they are stuck in the caves, short on supplies. The film quickly turns terrifying as they find out that the caves are full of...
2023-02-2200 min
2023-02-221h 46
The Neuro NetworkEp.9 Coltan Scrivner, PhD- The Science of Fear and Morbid CuriosityColtan Scrivner, PhD of the Recreational Fear Lab joins us for a fascinating dive into the neuroscience and psychology of fear. Learn what makes humans fear, and what draws us to enjoy haunted houses and horror films. Coltan Scrivner: https://www.coltanscrivner.com/Recreational Fear Lab: https://cc.au.dk/en/recreational-fear-lab/Publications:Psychology and neurobiology of horror movies: https://psyarxiv.com/b8tgs/https://www.theneuronetwork.org/*Disclaimer: The information in this show is for entertainment purposes only, and is not to be taken as professional...
2023-02-201h 08
Tech and Science Daily | The StandardThe Science of Fear | Horror specialWhat's the best scary movie to watch? But do we lack empathy if we enjoy horror? Behavioural scientist Coltan Scrivner, from the Recreational Fear Lab, explains the science behind our fascination with fear.In this episode:What is morbid curiosity?How our bodies react to horrorWhy are we drawn to shows like Terrifier 2 and Netflix’s Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer StoryDo we lack empathy if we like scary films?Recurring themes in horror movies and why they’re usedThe morbid films a behavioural scientist watches…Can horror have a bad impact on our mental health, or is it...
2022-10-3108 min
The Morning Brew with Andrew SchultzDr. Craig Jenne, Concussion Awareness Day, Alberta Summer Tourism and understanding "Morbid Curiosity"Welcome to the MWSA Podcast for Wednesday, September 28th.We begin with a look at the ‘state’ of COVID-19 as we move into the fall. Could we see an ‘uptick’ in cases and what can we expect from ‘flu’ season this year in Alberta? We discuss with Dr. Craig Jenne, Infectious Disease Specialist from the University of Calgary.Over 200-thousand concussions occur annually in Canada – the most common head injury. Do you know how to accurately identify a concussion and how it should be ‘treated’? We get the answers from Dr. Martin Mrazik, Professor of Psychology from th...
2022-09-2832 min
Folk och Försvar-poddenKan filmer förbereda dig för kris och krig?Få kulturyttringar har samma genomslag som filmen och filmen har både en konstnärlig och en underhållande ställning som få andra medier kan konkurrera med. Vi ser film för att bli berörda, för att glädjas och för att förstå vår omvärld. Genom filmernas berättelser utmanar vi vår egen syn på dilemman och prövningar utan att själva behöva utsättas för dem.
Därför är det inte orimligt att tänka sig att filmer som handlar om krig och katastrofer också kan skapa en viss mental b...
2022-03-2848 min
Such a Nightmare: Conversations about HorrorMy Heart Is a Chainsaw (2021) | Episode #63In this episode, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca discuss the 2021 horror novel My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones.
Episode Highlights: We talk about the character of Jade as the broken and beautiful Final Girl that we do not deserve, but that we so desperately need. Toni praises the use of the extra-credit essays between chapters, and Katherine admits that they were brilliant additions but reminded her a bit too much of grading. And we explore the ways that this novel forces us to confront both the power and limitations of this genre we...
2022-02-1452 min
Converging Dialogues#89 - The Macabre Pleasures of Morbid Curiosity: A Dialogue with Coltan ScrivnerIn this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Coltan Scrivner about morbid curiosity. They define curiosity and morbid curiosity along with the origins of morbid curiosity with critiques on terror management theory and negative trait bias. They discuss state vs. trait morbid curiosity and how morbid curiosity correlates with personality. They talk about his measure of morbid curiosity, what factors he found, and why he used factor analysis. They engage on horror films and why many people are invested in this genre. They also talk about the potential clinical implications and challenges that horror could have on disorders...
2021-11-221h 57
Analytischer KaffeeplauschEpisode 26 – Kommen Horrorfans besser durch die Pandemie?Würdet ihr an einer Séance teilnehmen? Hättet ihr Interesse, mit Serienmörder*innen zu reden? Wie sieht es mit dem Zusehen bei einer Kopftransplantation aus? Die Antworten auf Fragen wie diese geben Aufschluss über das Konzept der morbiden Neugier. Was dies genau beinhaltet und ob Menschen, die bei solchen Fragen eher "ja" antworten und z. B. generell gerne Horror konsumieren, besser in einer Pandemie zurechtkommen, diskutieren Paul und Rebecca in diesem Halloween-Special anhand einer psychologischen Studie. Dabei erfahrt ihr auch, was Rebecca bei einem Seminar zu Schönheitschirurgie erlebt hat, und ob Paul einen Gladiatorenkampf besuchen würde...
2021-10-311h 21
Choose to be CuriousEp. #155: Morbid Curiosity, with Coltan ScrivnerDo horror movies serve a purpose? Where do you draw the line between revulsion and wanting to know more? These are the questions that drive the research of Coltan Scrivner, PhD. Coltan investigates the evolutionary and psychological underpinnings of our fascination with the darker side of life, including horror, true crime, and all types of scary play.
Just in time for Halloween, but with fascinating, surprising and thought-provoking applications any time, we focus today on morbid curiosity.
Coltan Scrivner: https://www.coltanscrivner.com
Theme music by Sean Balick. "Nervous Whisp" by CloudCover, via Blue Dot Sessions.
This show first aired...
2021-10-2628 min
Mind Under MatterMorbid CuriositiesThe Slightly Morbid and Extremely Curious Boys of Comedy™ new costumes for a second Halloween episode.
This week, we talk about the psychology of horror.
Most life on earth tends to avoid scary situations. So why are so many humans drawn toward horror movies, haunted houses, and other situations where we intentionally confront fear, violence, death and disgust for recreation?
To find out, The SMECBC™ take horror researcher, Coltan Scrivner’s, ‘Morbid Curiosity Scale’.
Would you like to see a head transplant? How about wa...
2021-10-252h 28
Podcast#69: Coltan Scrivner on First-Gen to FameColtan Scrivner: you may not know the name, but you will. Coltan is a first-gen college student, and one of the most impressive PhD students I've come across. His family is from Slaughterville, Oklahoma, and did his undergrad and masters in Oklahoma before beginning his PhD at the University of Chicago's Department of Comparative Human Development. He's carved out for himself a fascinating area of specialization: morbid curiosity. It's really cool to see him conceive of an academic niche and to position himself as the unequivocal world expert. He's under contract for Penguin Random House to write a trade book...
2021-10-1957 minCognitive Revolution#69: Coltan Scrivner on First-Gen to FameColtan Scrivner: you may not know the name, but you will. Coltan is a first-gen college student, and one of the most impressive PhD students I've come across. His family is from Slaughterville, Oklahoma, and did his undergrad and masters in Oklahoma before beginning his PhD at the University of Chicago's Department of Comparative Human Development. He's carved out for himself a fascinating area of specialization: morbid curiosity. It's really cool to see him conceive of an academic niche and to position himself as the unequivocal world expert. He's under contract for Penguin Random House to write a trade book...
2021-10-1957 min
Here We AreMorbid Curiosity w/Coltan ScrivnerToday I am speaking with Coltan Scrivner, who is a researcher at The University of Chicago in the Department of Comparative Human Development and a Fellow at the Institute for Mind and Biology. We talk about horror, anxiety, why some people enjoy scaring themselves for fun, and I take Coltan's Morbid Curiosity Test!Find out how morbidly curious you are! https://www.coltanscrivner.com/morbid-curiosity-testLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-10-121h 39
Here We AreMorbid Curiosity w/Coltan ScrivnerToday I am speaking with Coltan Scrivner, who is a researcher at The University of Chicago in the Department of Comparative Human Development and a Fellow at the Institute for Mind and Biology. We talk about horror, anxiety, why some people enjoy scaring themselves for fun, and I take Coltan's Morbid Curiosity Test!
Find out how morbidly curious you are! https://www.coltanscrivner.com/morbid-curiosity-test
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-10-121h 39
ALTER WeeklyIf 2020 Was a Scary Movie...In this exciting episode, Andrew and Sapphire explore how horror fans are faring among a pandemic with Coltan Scrivner, how horror can help tackle societal issues of today with Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr, and an intro to the brand new ALTER Society Movie Club! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-11-0555 min
EPIDEMIC with Dr. Celine GounderS1E49 / Lessons from the Zombie Apocalypse / Coltan Scrivner, David Schnieder, Robert WonserTranscript"We have this long history of seeking personal and individual solutions to public problems and I think the zombie films highlight that." - Robert WonserFrom Night of the Living Dead, to 28 Days Later, and World War Z, pandemics have always been at the heart of zombie movies. In this Halloween edition of Epidemic, we find out what these films get right and wrong about the current coronavirus pandemic, what they can teach us about epidemiology, and how fans of horror movies are experiencing the pandemic differently than the rest of us. T...
2020-10-3022 min
Top of Mind with Julie RoseFake News, Homework, Horror FilmsTrue or False? A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Identifying Fake News (0:33)Guest: Cindy Otis, Former Intelligence Analyst at the CIA, Author of “True or False: A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News”In this final week before the election, Twitter and Facebook are taking extra precautions to prevent misinformation from spreading on their sites. When the stakes are high, fake news flourishes online. And despite the efforts Twitter and Facebook might make, it really comes down to you and me doing our part to think critically about what we’re reading and watching online. How Ho...
2020-10-271h 44
Ciencia en ChanclasEpisodio 2: Horror vs. pandemiaEn este episodio hablamos del estudio que Scrivner, C. y sus colegas realizaron en 310 personas buscando una relación entre ser fan de películas de horror o del género de supervivencia con un sentimiento de estabilidad emocional y preparación ante la pandemia respectivamente.
Artículo: Scrivner, Coltan, et al. "Pandemic practice: Horror fans and morbidly curious individuals are more psychologically resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic." Personality and individual differences (2020): 110397.
Manda tus correcciones a cienciaenchanclas@gmail.com
Instagram: @cienciachanclas
Twitter: @CienciaChanclas
Facebook: https://www.faceb...
2020-10-2016 min
The Mad Scientist PodcastMorbid CuriosityThis episode we are joined by Coltan Scrivner to talk about his work on Morbid Curiosity! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2020-08-1150 min