To think murder mysteries are compensating for easy safe lives

[BorrowedThyme]

I read a scientific article once about how the human physiology is designed to cope with multiple shocks and frights, as we would have done in prehistoric times ( 99% of our history as a species) and if we don't get those shocks and frights, we seek them out, at funfairs, and through ghost stories, etc.

Looking at that "cosy murder" discussion, it really stands out that watching and enjoying murders is a major past time in our culture - there are literally hundreds and hundreds of them in TV, films and books!

Isn't it odd that so many of us enjoy them so much, when none of us would want anything like that to touch our real lives.

Is this somehow regulating our physiological design need for fears and shocks?

I think there are different types of murder mystery and people get different things out of them. The "golden age" ones are often puzzles in book form, but they do appeal to a sense of justice as well. But even there you get more complex authors like Dorothy L Sayers, who's well worth reading for character development, or social history, or even (some of them) romance.

More realistic murder mysteries with more accurate description of the murders might appeal more to the need for danger or blood and gore, but I'm not sure the "cosy mysteries" do that.

What was the article, @BorrowedThyme , have you got a link?

It is weird that most of us want to sit down to a nice quiet, calm evening, and do it by watching horrific things for fun.

I think it's a bit like sugar. We are evolved to eat as much of it as we can where ever we find it, but now it's so horribly available all the time. People didn't used to have access to all this stuff, and used to have to get by on a really dramatic game of cards, or someone dramatically playing the harpsichord.

I don’t like gore and blood. I turn anything off if it’s gets silly.
The vast majority of murder victims are known by the murderer. It isn’t like the films. Serial killers who plan and have ‘a reason’ for killing are rare. Mostly the police will have an idea who the murderer is.Often The victim will have already been in contact with the police and reported previous assaults, or the crime scene will suggest what has been happening.
I don’t like how the media try and normalise rare attacks and make us believe that you are far more at risk from strangers when that is not true.
Children are most at risk from harm in their own homes. I guess that doesn’t sell as well though. Our reality has been distorted. Off the top of my head of the murder victims I know of, every single one was killed by their husband. Everyone.
I prefer reading a good drama or comedy. Silly crime books bore me. By that I mean those which are so far fetched I can’t give them credit.

I stopped enjoying murder mysteries when I had a couple of close family bereavements. They made me realise how utterly fake murder mysteries are on every level, practically, socially and psychologically, and I find them quite tasteless now.

Children are most at risk from harm in their own homes. I guess that doesn’t sell as well though

It's interesting. Following the revolting logic that we seem to have of 'the more gory and shocking, the better', we never really go this far.

@PostOpOp yes absolutely agree there is a need to assign blame & then retain control & accidents are less preferable because I think some believe "well if I do X or Y I won't get murdered" where's accidents are out of your control as you say.

Children are most at risk from harm in their own homes. I guess that doesn’t sell as well though

It's easier to think the bogeyman is the weirdo around the corner as opposed to living in your house. I also think people like to think they would see the signs when in reality many don't.

Aren’t they in decline now that we live in interesting times?

I’ve always thought two reasons. 1) as you say; and 2) before divorce there was a sex scandal element and possibly a cautionary tale. Ie The police always win so don’t try this at home.

Everything is neatly tied up at the end, and murder mysteries don't have violence and gore (on screen). It's not the same as a gritty crime drama, which I am not interested in.

I don't "enjoy" murders, I enjoy the solving of the crime. Also, it's not just about murder, they solve other crimes too. Murder mysteries is just catchier than crime mysteries!

My mum watched/read hundreds of murder mysteries. The psychology was pretty simple, it reassured her that there was still order and justice in the world, that the baddie is always caught and punished.

She found the news increasingly difficult to cope with, husbands killing wives, parents killing children. Even though it has always happened.

I totally get that. I sat next to the area where forensic detectives were working on the body of my loved one, watched them carrying out evidence bags, taking photos. For ages after I just found those shows so fake for a variety of reasons. I can enjoy them again now though.

Don't know about mystery films, but you could say the same thing about horror films. And I think people who prefer horror films are often managing difficult or frightening experiences from their earlier lives.

I think it's true of many aspects of our lives now. Forms of exercise like gyms and jogging never used to be a widespread thing because people got enough exercise walking everywhere and even housework was quite physical pre Hoover's and washing machines. Extreme sports and thrill seeking rides at funfairs ditto..lack of time to do them and no need to seek out challenge because for most people ordinary life was tough enough. As for murders, people have always been fascinated by "monsters" and awful things..there's a comfort in knowing it's "them" and not you.

I can't and don't watch horror or war-related things but love cosy detective, Nordic detective stuff which is sometimes a bit darker and sometimes true crime series. I find the psychology of real life crime and fictional thrillers fascinating and enjoy the slight adrenalin rush of some of the darker stuff tho I wonder whether this is about my normal day to day existence having a bit too much adrenalin coursing about - maybe I should avoid these and just calm down without the tension of psychological thriller. I find cosy detective reassuring and enjoy the fact it's less passive than much other tv - ie you are watching but also trying to work something out that is not too related to real life. I'm not having to think about a world problem for example. But I do avoid anything with upsetting deaths of children, child abuse etc. which I can't cope with.

I enjoy murder mysterys both on TV and in books. I like the agatha christie, Vera, Midsomer murders type.
I don't ever watch true crime or anything with realistic violence.
I enjoy the puzzle and I also like that the detective always finds a solution.

I like the puzzle aspect too. I am surprised how many lovers of fictional murder also enjoy "true crime". I enjoy fiction, but I don't like to hear of real people being hurt.

I think it may be the other way around for some people. In my work life I deal with situations that are complex and difficult and just plain unfair. In a murder mystery there is a puzzle, the murderer is unmarked and justice is done. It is a fantasy and I read them as such.

I think you are conflating the two, op. I don't think anyone on the thread about murder mysteries was saying how much they love a good true crime murder. I think your main point is unfair, and I agree with mostlydrinkstea.