The Role of Crime Films and True-Crime Media in Normalising Fascination with Violent Offenders among Young Adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60072/ijeissah.2026.v4i03.006Abstract
Crime films and true-crime media may shape how audiences attend to violent offenders, but interest must not be treated as approval of violence. This structured evidence review asks: How does engagement with crime films and true-crime media relate to fascination with violent offenders among young adults, and what evidence distinguishes curiosity or attraction from glorification and endorsement? A verification audit identified seven substantive sources cited by the manuscript: three empirical studies, one empirical analysis of online discourse, two reviews, and one field overview. The evidence was therefore synthesised by evidence type and theme rather than presented as 15 homogeneous empirical studies. Findings suggest associations between media engagement, morbid curiosity, offender-focused framing, and attention to offenders; however, the evidence is mainly cross-sectional, includes adult samples not restricted to ages 18–29, and includes one preprint. It does not establish that repeated exposure causes normalisation or endorsement. Victim marginalisation and offender glamourisation remain important ethical concerns. More longitudinal and experimental research with age-specific samples is needed.
Keywords:
Crime Films, Digital Media, Morbid Curiosity, Media Framing, PRISMA 2020, Structured Evidence Review, True-crime Media, Violent Offenders, Young AdultsDownloads
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