Coltan Scrivner Ph.D.

About

Coltan Scrivner is an author and behavioral scientist. He is a research fellow at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University. He has pioneered the psychological study of morbid curiosity and is an expert on the psychology of horror fandom and scary play. His research has been widely covered by news and media outlets, including National Geographic, Time, BBC, The Chicago Tribune, The Guardian, The New York Times, and Forbes.

Recent Posts

Suppression Can Be Good for Your Mental Health

Conventional wisdom says suppressing difficult thoughts is bad, but new research suggests it may be useful in some cases.

Scary and Unstructured Play Builds Resilience in Kids

To learn how to overcome fear and anxiety, children have to experience it — and the best way to experience it is to play with it.

Why We're Interested in Serial Killer Manifestos

There's a desire to understand the darker side of the human species that is hidden in the shadows of the mind.

Do Horror Fans Have Low Empathy?

Many people assume horror fans are unempathetic—but the science isn't so clear.

Why We Are Fascinated by Serial Killers

Why are we intrigued by serial killers? Our ability to mentally simulate experiences and our evolutionary relationship with predators may be to blame.

Morbid Curiosity in Your Dreams

Can our morbid curiosity seep into our dreams?

How You Could Use Horror to Overcome Anxiety

Why would a movie meant to make you feel anxious actually help you cope with anxiety? It's all about practice.

How 3 Types of Fans Benefit from Horror

Horror isn't just about the adrenaline rush; some people learn about themselves from engaging in scary play.

3 Key Traits of Morbidly Curious People

These three traits strongly influence whether or not someone tends to experience morbid curiosity.

A Film Critic Claims "Saw" Fans Are Depraved. Is He Right?

A movie critic claims that fans of horror movies like Saw are "depraved lunatics." What does the science say?