May 25, 2023 07:00:00

What is the reason why works dealing with 'unsolved mysteries' attract people?

``Unsolved mysteries'', including unsolved cases such as murder and theft, unidentified phenomena such as aliens and ghosts, and ``mysteries'' that exist in stories, have always been viewers and readers. is what attracts The documentary program '

Unsolved Mysteries , ' which follows unsolved cases and supernatural mysteries in the United States, has been popular for many years. Daryl Sparks, senior lecturer in media studies, explains.

Neverending stories – why we still love Unsolved Mysteries
https://theconversation.com/neverending-stories-why-we-still-love-unsolved-mysteries-141046

'Unsolved Mysteries' has been popular for more than 30 years since the 1980s, and has been rebooted for over 30 years . Levy 's latest work is now available on Netflix.

Unsolved Mysteries | Official Trailer | Netflix-YouTube


According to Sparks, there are two types of 'unsolved mysteries': real events and unsubstantiated ones, including urban legends and folklore. It is said that there is a connection.

First, Mr. Sparks says that people tend to naturally believe things that are not immediately rationally explained. In a 2014 survey conducted in Australia by the television station Syfy , 88% of those who took part in the survey said that they believe it is quite possible that paranormal phenomena exist, with 50% of them saying that ghosts or They believe in spirits, and 42% believe in UFOs and aliens.

Religious philosophy researcher

Stephen Low explains why people believe in supernatural beings: ``Scientists working on the cognitive science of religion believe that humans attribute their intentions and actions to inanimate or invisible things. By believing in something, humans feel that they can control unknown and uncertain events, and in uncertain situations You can feel safe in the world,” he said . Regarding HADD, which acts as a defense mechanism, and other beliefs and beliefs, Low said, 'The fact that it is easy to fall into false positive beliefs when they are based on a combination of subjective experiences warrants caution. There is,' he said, saying that we should beware of unfounded beliefs.

However, while HADD does explain some of the reasons for believing in entities such as ghosts and spirits, it does not explain other supernatural beliefs, and many people argue that supernatural phenomena are not scientifically controversial. Sparks points out that even when they do, they tend to reject rational explanations and hold onto beliefs. In fact, the majority of the 'Unsolved Mysteries' program is not evidence or reasoning, but personal testimonies of encounters with aliens and ghosts.

In a 2008

paper published by social psychologists Jennifer Whitson and Adam Galinski , people are unable to control their reasoning and cognition, so they tend to stick to certain rules and superstitions where there is nothing. It has been shown to create an illusion. Similar to Lo's conclusion, the paper concludes that the reason for believing that there is something out of nothing is a reaction to create order in the mind when faced with an unnatural situation. And a study of the neural underpinnings of religious beliefs, conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, demonstrated that hearing the phrase 'God' activates areas of the brain that trigger positive emotions. . With this, the research team argues that the unfounded belief is an area of biochemistry related to the homeostasis of life phenomena.

'Unsolved Mysteries' includes not only supernatural and superscientific categories, but also stories of real events and accidents. According to Sparks, this category also draws people in, using strong emotions and senses about the darker side of human nature, as well as belief in the supernatural.

Psychologist Meg Arroll says that people can enjoy reenactments of real crimes because, ``As humans, we want to understand the darker side of our nature. By watching movies that realistically reproduce real events that are terrifying or terrifying, youcan explore the dark potential of humans in a safe way, while maintaining a safe distance.' Also, according to criminologist Scott Vonn , witnessing horrific acts such as serial killings creates a stimulating and addictive adrenaline in the brain that can be brutal, like riding a screaming machine repeatedly. I would like to know the details of the incident.

In addition, research has shown that women are often attracted to crime documentaries because they can get tips on how to protect themselves when they are actually involved in crime or attacked, and that ``I don't want this to happen to me. Mr. Sparks also speculates that it is to enjoy a kind of Schadenfreude feeling to feel relieved.

``In fact, I don't think that a single mechanism can explain the tendency of humans to hold supernatural beliefs,'' Low said, making a comprehensive explanation difficult. “Unsolved mystery shows are so popular because of their ability to provoke a positive emotional response, regardless of the mystery category or the content of the story,” said Sparks. It reinforces our belief that we can easily fall victim to a world full of horrors, both real and supernatural.'