'For the individuals sitting at home in their lounge chair, it's just entertainment. 'So part of the interest is to try and answer the question of why.'īut in the same way one might watch a fictional horror film or television series like Silence of the Lambs or Dexter, Bonn said that the adrenaline rush viewers feel when watching true crime is the same. 'On the one hand, the things that they do, and particularly Jeffrey Dahmer, are so over the top and incomprehensible that it's simultaneously mind-boggling and very, very frightening,' Bonn told Newsweek. Scott Bonn, a criminologist and author of the book Why We Love Serial Killers: The Curious Appeal of the World's Most Savage Murderers, understands the fascination well. Rather than simply remembering serial killers as culprits and acknowledging their victims, some truly brutal serial killers have been regarded with horrified fascination, and even some attraction-Evan Peters' acting skills and good looks have earned him a dedicated fanbase, but his portrayal of Dahmer has been the subject of some discourse regarding romanticizing the actor in the role they play.ĭr. The line between a desire for knowledge and a glorification of gore seems to be getting ever thinner. Bureau of Prisons, Marny Malin/Sygma, Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, Bettman, and Josh Trujillo./Getty A criminologist explained to Newsweek why we are fascinated with serial killers.

In this compilation of American serial killers, top (left to right) are John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer, center is Dennis Rader, bottom are Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgeway.

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