Why are so many of us drawn to horror, gore, and true crime? Why do we crane our necks to see the scene of a crash on the highway? Psychologist Coltan Scrivner says that our natural morbid curiosity serves a purpose. We talk with Coltan about our fascination with tales of murder and mayhem, and what this tendency reveals about our minds.

In this episode, you'll learn:

*Why there's often a surge of interest in scary entertainment after a violent or tragic incident in the real world.

*The potential evolutionary roots of our curiosity about scary events or violent stories.

*What researchers have found about the impact of scary movies and books on the people who watch them.

*How horror content can be a vehicle for connecting with other people.

*What we know about the personality traits of people who are drawn to dark and sinister stories.

If you have a question or personal story related to today's episode that you'd be willing to share with the Hidden Brain audience, please record a voice memo on your phone and email it to us at ideas@hiddenbrain.org. Use the subject line "scary."

Looking for the perfect holiday present for the Hidden Brain fan in your life? We've got you covered. Give your loved one a gift membership to Hidden Brain+, or visit our online shop for t-shirts, mugs, totes, and more! Here's another idea: grab tickets for one of our upcoming live shows. We'll be in Philadelphia on March 21 and New York on March 25. Thanks and Happy Holidays!

This December, Hidden Brain is proud to join #PodsFightPoverty. We're teaming up with other podcasts to raise funds to lift three villages in Rwanda out of extreme poverty. Your donation goes directly to the families who know best what they need. Visit GiveDirectly.org/HiddenBrain to make a difference for someone who needs it most.

Episode image by Riswan Ratta for Unsplash+

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If you’re a parent or a teacher, you’ve probably wondered how to balance play and safety for the kids in your care. You don’t want to put children in danger, but you also don’t want to rob them of the joy of exploration. This week, we revisit a favorite conversation with psychologist Peter Gray. We'll talk about why independent play is so important to a child's development, and answer listeners' questions about the role parents, schools, and neighborhoods can play in giving kids more autonomy.

In this episode, you'll learn:

*The skills that children develop when they play without parental involvement.

*Why American culture has shifted away from independence for children in recent decades.

*The role of independent play in helping children to learn key lessons and thrive developmentally.

*The simple question that parents can ask their kids to create space for more unstructured play.

*How to know what's age-appropriate when it comes to independent play.

*How to foster independent play in your neighborhood or community.

*What schools can do to encourage unstructured opportunities for kids.

Episode photo by Aisiri Iyengar on Unsplash

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For many of us, navigating the conclusion of a relationship is one of the hardest things we'll ever do. This week, we conclude our Love 2.0 series with psychologist Antonio Pascual-Leone, who shares the most common mistakes we make when it comes to splitting up, and techniques that can help us ease the pain. Then, our latest edition of Your Questions Answered. Cognitive scientist Phil Fernbach returns to respond to listeners' thoughts and questions about the "illusion of knowledge."

Do you have questions for Antonio Pascual-Leone about breakups? Are there losses that have left you feeling stuck? Have you discovered techniques to move on when a relationship ends? If you'd be willing to share your question or comment with the Hidden Brain audience, please record a voice memo on your phone and email it to us at ideas@hiddenbrain.org. Two or three minutes is plenty. Use the subject line "breakups." Thanks!

Image by Yana Kravchuk for Unsplash+

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.