The Allure of Disaster: Why we can't stop rubbernecking.

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  • Author(s): Wilson, Eric G.
  • Source:
    Psychology Today. Mar/Apr2012, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p52-53. 2p.
  • Additional Information
    • Subject Terms:
      ATTENTION; ATTITUDE (Psychology); DISASTERS; EMPATHY; LIFE; SOCIAL skills; SUFFERING
    • Abstract:
      The article addresses issues on macabre occurrences and having morbid curiosity. It provides a list of some morbid fascinations by people including disaster footage on television (TV) news, documentaries featuring animal attacks and sordid reality shows. It also cites the arguments by Gerard Jones in his book "Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Superheroes, and Make-Believe Violence" that children can benefit from exposure to fictional violence because it makes them powerful.