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Why we love the true crime genre: Mom Squad with 3News' Maureen Kyle

The stories can be morbid and terrifying, but for some reason, True Crime is extremely popular. Why are we attracted to these stories? Maureen Kyle looks into it.

CLEVELAND — Moms love true crime stories. It’s a stereotype, but with some truth to it. 

NBC just launched their mini-series The Thing About Pam based on a popular podcast and episodes from Dateline. This got us thinking -- why are we so drawn to these stories? In today's Mom Squad, 3News' Maureen Kyle talks to Cleveland Clinic Psychologist, Dr. Susan Albers about the attraction and what it means.

“Essentially, we are doing research," Albers says. "Our minds are becoming attune to all the dangers in the environment. And women are often more vulnerable to crimes, so they want to be prepared. They can walk through all the scenarios in their mind, all the 'what ifs.'"

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Most people don’t think their spouse or loved one would ever commit murder, but Dr. Albers says even the adrenaline rush we get from these shows is part of our human nature.

“We like to be scared in very controlled and safe ways. In fact, if we look at our biology as we watch these shows. We feel something. We have a physiological reaction."

In the Mom Squad Pod podcast, Kyle also talks with 3News producer Brooke Dohar who shares her favorite true crime podcasts and what she thinks of the the doctor's insight.

You can download the Mom Squad Pod anywhere you listen to your podcasts.

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Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in a previous Mom Squad story on March 1, 2022.

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