Main content

Why are we obsessed with crime?

Kay from Hamburg wants to know where our obsession with crime comes from as every Sunday Germans pile into pubs to watch a crime drama which has been running for 50 years.

Why are we obsessed with crime? Kay from Hamburg, Germany asks as every Sunday evening Germans pile into their local pubs to watch Tatort, a hugely successful crime drama which has been running for 50 years.

Presenter Marnie Chesterton starts with the science and speaks with psychologists to get to the bottom of where this obsession might come from. Have we evolved to have an innate obsession with danger or are we addicted to feeling fear?

Or perhaps the dramatisation of crime fuels our obsession. Producer Caroline Steel visits the film set of 麻豆社 crime drama, Line of Duty. Producer Jed Mercurio explains what draws us to crime narratives and the techniques he uses to keep his audience captivated.

But does the way we chose to represent crime in media match up with reality? And what is the impact of this on society and policy?

(Photo: body outline. Credit: Getty Images)

Available now

32 minutes

Last on

Mon 9 Mar 2020 18:32GMT

Clip

Broadcasts

  • Fri 6 Mar 2020 20:32GMT
  • Fri 6 Mar 2020 21:32GMT
  • Sun 8 Mar 2020 00:32GMT
  • Mon 9 Mar 2020 05:32GMT
  • Mon 9 Mar 2020 06:32GMT
  • Mon 9 Mar 2020 07:32GMT
  • Mon 9 Mar 2020 11:32GMT
  • Mon 9 Mar 2020 18:32GMT

Podcast