I have to admit, when I first discovered my child’s fascination with villains, blood, and horror, I panicked a little. I worried: Is this normal? Should I be concerned?
As a mom, I wasn’t sure if these thoughts are natural— or am I raising a psychopath? I overthought (because that’s what moms do) and wanted clarity (so I could sleep again). So I went straight to my therapist and asked: “What does it mean if my kid is obsessed with horror?”
Here’s what I learned—and what I think every parent should hear.
Kids and “Dark” Interests: What My Therapist Said
-
Relatability Matters
Children, especially those who often feel misunderstood or corrected, don’t always see themselves in the “good” characters on TV or in books. Disney princesses and morning cartoons show idealized behavior that feels foreign to them. Villains, anti-heroes, or even horror characters can feel far more relatable. They act out, they struggle, and sometimes they survive against the odds—just like my child feels they need to. -
Interest ≠ Danger
Just because a child loves horror or draws bloody vampires doesn’t mean they’re antisocial, violent, or destined to harm anyone. My therapist reminded me: fascination with scary themes is not a red flag for psychopathy. Media stereotypes can be harmful—they make us worry unnecessarily and shame our kids for simply exploring normal things. -
Avoid Shame
Criticizing or shaming a child for their interests can make them hide them, creating anxiety, secrecy, and even more intensity around those interests. My therapist emphasized curiosity over judgment—ask questions, learn, and support your child safely.
My Own True Crime Confession
Here’s the twist: I, too, am drawn to the darker side of human nature—through true crime podcasts and documentaries. But is it the same thing as my child’s horror obsession?
Not exactly. For me, true crime is about curiosity, understanding, and storytelling. For my child, horror is playful, thrilling, and imaginative. Yet, both of us are exploring boundaries in a safe way, trying to understand human behavior without causing harm.
My therapist pointed out something important here: our interests in “dark” content don’t make us bad or dangerous. It’s a way to explore fear safely.
Why Horror Can Be Healthy
When I stepped back (and after speaking to my therapist, lol) and really thought about it more, I discovered that horror can serve several healthy purposes for kids:
-
Curiosity About the Unknown: Kids explore scary or taboo topics in a safe environment (much like my true crime podcasts for me)
-
Adrenaline & Excitement: Fear triggers a thrill that feels like a rollercoaster ride—the pounding heart, sweaty palms, and nervous giggles are all part of the fun.
-
Testing Limits: Horror lets kids ask, “How much can I handle?” and build resilience, explore what feels right for them, and what they can manage.
-
Identity & Expression: Ghosts, witches, vampires, and monsters can help kids explore individuality. Expressing themselves in a relatable way – again, not every kid resonates with a perfect Disney Princess.
-
Social Bonding: Sharing scary stories or watching a spooky film strengthens friendships.
-
Processing Real-Life Fears: Imaginary monsters can act as metaphors for real anxieties.
Trust Your Instincts
My therapist reminded me to trust my intuition. If a child’s fascination comes with other concerning behaviors:
-Violent acting out
-Bullying
-Decreased empathy
-Desensitized to real-world violence
Then it’s best to check in with a professional. Otherwise, supporting their creative curiosity—even in scary themes—can help them grow, learn, and feel understood.
Set Smart Limits
It’s completely normal for kids to be curious about spooky stories or creepy characters—lots of children love the thrill without getting overly scared. But just because your child isn’t fazed by something scary doesn’t mean it’s healthy for them to consume content that’s too mature or full of violence.
Kids’ brains are still developing, and regular exposure to graphic or intense material can normalize aggression, desensitize them to violence, or feed anxieties in ways that aren’t always obvious.
The key is to balance their natural fascination with age-appropriate boundaries, steering them toward safer “scary fun” like goosebump-worthy books, Halloween specials, or kid-friendly thrillers, rather than adult horror meant for mature audiences.
You’ve got this:
Horror, villains, and dark interests don’t make children “bad” or dangerous. They’re exploring, learning, and expressing themselves in a safe way.
As a mom, it’s easy to panic—but curiosity, empathy, and conversation go a lot further than judgment. And as for me? I’ll keep listening to true crime podcasts…because sometimes, parenting and curiosity about the dark side can meet in unexpected ways.
