Why Are We So Obsessed with the Creepy Things in Life?

By Jordyn Smith

Are you a horror movie buff? Do you find it hard to look away when passing by a particularly bad car crash? Don't worry, you're not any weirder than the rest of us; in this video, Vsauce focuses on the science of why human beings are so morbidly curious.

The answer in itself is actually pretty complex. There are a multitude of brain functions that support the human need for curiosity, whether morbid or not. Our natural curiosity is a large part of what keeps us safe and alive. There is also evidence that suggests that the guilt of being interested in morbid things is something that drives us towards them in the first place, the rush of excitement when doing or seeing something that is "forbidden" can be downright addicting.

One of the best explanations of this question stems simply from the powerfulness of human empathy. One of the biggest reasons humans are so interested in macabre things is because it gives us an opportunity to attempt to experience someone else's suffering.

So the next time you think about what the outcome of shoving your hand down a garbage disposal would be, remember your brain is probably doing you a favor.