Why we watch videos of murder and torture

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In the past week or so, a memory from my childhood has often come to my mind: I’m about 10 years old, I’m lying on my mom’s lap, and the TV is saying, “Keep the kids away from the screens. My mom puts her hand over my eyes, and I’m still lying there – I can’t see anything, but I’m very scared: obviously something terrible is happening on the screen.

After the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall, I return to this state of my childhood every time I see a blurred video with the disclaimer “Caution, shocking content. And every time, along with the fear, I am tempted to turn on the video. But why? Because I know I’ll feel bad after watching it.

Judging by social networks, many people have experienced something similar in the past week. In the first day after the attack, videos of the shooting of spectators and its aftermath, shot from different angles, literally flooded the Internet. Then came videos and photos of the torture of the alleged terrorists. Even those who tried their best not to watch these videos watched them – not only because they were everywhere, but also because the urge to press play was somehow too great.

In this letter, I’ll take a closer look at that urge and explain why it arises in the first place. I’ll also tell you how watching violent videos affects us, and what to do if you’ve already watched one – and now you can’t find a place to go.

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This letter is composed of 13,000 characters and will take approximately 10 minutes to read.

The three chapters in this letter. This is the first one to explain why we are drawn to images of other people’s suffering. The second will explain why watching scary content is not a good idea. The third will provide guidance on what to do if you are interested in watching a video that is violent. Considering what to do in the event of witnessing something you were not ready for.

Chapter 1: Three reasons why we’re drawn to watching violent content

“Whenever terrible things happen, we are faced with the choice of being spectators or cowards who avert our gaze,” writes American writer and philosopher Susan Sontag in her book Watching Other People’s Suffering.

Our interest in other people’s bodies in pain is nothing new, Sontag writes. Nor, for that matter, is attention to the naked body. To see this, one need only think of Christian art – the infant-beating scene, for example – or ancient painting, which is also replete with scenes of violence.

But of course, shuddering at a Titian painting of a man being flayed alive is not the same as looking at a photograph depicting violence. “Invented horror can also be depressing,” says Zontag. – But to see real horror filmed up close is shocking and shameful. Perhaps only those who can somehow alleviate such ultimate agony have the right to look at images of it. <…> We, the rest of us, are voyeurs, whether we want to admit it or not.”

Does this mean that the urge to look at other people’s suffering is simply curiosity? And does the fact that we indulge it make us bad people? Not everything is so simple, explains Natalia Kiselnikova, a candidate of psychological sciences. According to her, the interest in violent content usually has three reasons:

→ First, watching violence from a safe environment can be a way to prepare for danger. Tragedies like the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall are frightening not only because of the scale of the atrocity, but also because they are completely unpredictable: we don’t know where, when, and with whom it will happen next time. And watching video from the scene gives us an illusory sense of control over the situation. We feel that the more we know about shocking events, the better prepared we are for them. It’s the same reason we dumscroll.

→ Second, watching violent videos is one of our psychological defenses. When we learn about heinous events, we experience fear, horror, and panic. It can be very difficult to endure. By watching shocking content, we try to process these emotions, learn to cope better with anxiety, and ultimately confront our fears – without risking anything.

American psychiatrist David Henderson compares this feeling to those moments when we stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon – or look through a plate glass window at a ferocious lion in the zoo – and ask ourselves: If disaster were to strike right now, what would I do? Would I be able to bear the pain? Would I have the strength to recover?

→ Third, sometimes curiosity is really behind the desire for scary videos. “We know the effect of a crowd passing by a car accident,” says psychologist Natalia Kiselnikova. – People stop and want to see what’s going on. We can’t say that everyone enjoys it. They may be frightened and disgusted by what they see, but they continue to look. This is how the orientation reflex works: when something unusual happens, our brains immediately begin to examine the new stimulus (e.g., for potential danger).

In addition, sometimes we want to test ourselves. At such times, we unconsciously think something like this: “I was warned that this video is shocking and contains violent scenes. Will I be able to watch it? What will happen to me?”

Chapter 2: How shocking content affects us

In 2015, Pam Ramsden, Ph.D., of the University of Bradford, set out to understand what happens to people who watch other people suffer. Ramsden showed participants in her study shocking scenes from the news: the attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City (including images of people jumping out of windows), school shootings, and suicide bombings. The doctor then assessed people’s emotional state.

They found that nearly one in four had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These include irritability, sleep, memory and concentration problems, feelings of alienation, and a decreased ability to be happy and interested in things that used to bring pleasure.

The more often the participants watched the horrific videos, the more severe the symptoms became. Dr. Ramsden’s findings were a breakthrough: Previously, it was believed that PTSD could only develop in direct participants in the event or in those who work with its victims, such as doctors.

After watching videos with violent scenes, a person can experience heart palpitations, nausea and sweating. Natalya Kiselnikova, a candidate of psychological sciences, says that there are long-term consequences: bad sleep, insomnia, nightmares. Problems can also arise on an emotional level, Kiselnikova believes. The viewer may feel anxiety, restlessness, and constantly replay eerie images in his head.

The reality of “eyewitness trauma” – the phenomenon where a person suffers psychological trauma simply by witnessing a horrific event – has even been recognized by the courts. In 2018, a former Facebook moderator sued the company for PTSD caused by “exposure to toxic, unsafe, and harmful materials during her employment.” As a result, the company paid out $52 million to all moderators who experienced mental health issues. In addition, Facebook promised employees regular counseling sessions with psychologists.

Watching violent videos can also lead to retraumatization: if a person has once experienced a tragic event, it can resonate with the video they are watching and lead to a re-experiencing of a horrific event.

Moreover, even if you think your psyche is as stable as possible, you still can’t predict how you will feel. For example, you see a shocking video once and you’re fine. If you do it twice, you’ll be fine. At some point, however, your anxiety level may rise and you may feel unsafe.

Violent videos can also lead to desensitization, a state in which we simply stop feeling after an overabundance of emotion. “For some people, such detachment is a defensive reaction,” says Natalia Kiselnikova. Such “freezing” is dangerous: it makes a person feel less compassion for the victims and thus can normalize violence for himself. Sometimes after that people behave aggressively and argue with others more often.

Since the 1960s, researchers have been trying to trace the connection between the level of violence on the screen and in real life. It is difficult to make a clear connection because our behavior is influenced by too many factors. But some experiments confirm that watching violent videos increases the likelihood that a person will behave more aggressively in real life.

For example, in 1987 in Canada, 400 boys were offered to watch either violent or calm and non-violent videos before playing hockey.
The authors of other similar randomized experiments have come to similar conclusions – that violent content makes us act more aggressively.

Chapter 3: What to do if you still really want to watch a violent video

If you know that watching a violent video will make you feel bad, but you still want to watch it – think about the deeper need behind this desire, advises psychologist Natalia Kiselnikova. And after that – look for alternative ways to satisfy it. You can also ask yourself: what will happen if I resist and do not look? The answer will help you understand your motives better.

Here are some of the more likely scenarios.

You want to control the situation. In this case, think about and honestly answer the following questions: How will what you see help you make sense of what is happening? What decisions can you make based on it? And if you find that there is no real benefit to you from watching violent scenes, try to find a more constructive way to deal with the stress. For example, get some fresh air, do some vigorous exercise, or go to the countryside: trips to nature also help to reduce anxiety.
You are overcome with curiosity. Ask someone you know-someone who’s already watched it-to tell you what happens in the video. “When we watch a video, we see people’s immediate reactions, facial expressions – all of this activates our mirror neurons, and we begin to associate ourselves with the people on the screen, to feel more connected to what we’re seeing,” says Kiselnikova.

Text or oral storytelling does not involve as many sensory systems – it is easier to keep a distance between us and the events we are learning about. If the retelling is not enough, you can read the comments below the video – and try to satisfy your curiosity that way.

You don’t want to lose touch with reality. If facing the horrors of life seems important to you, ask yourself: What else can you do to feel a sense of belonging? How else can you feel the pain of others and help them? Perhaps a specific action will help victims more effectively and give you more satisfaction. For example, you could spread important information on social media, make a donation, give blood, or volunteer.
You are trying to cope with fear and anxiety, so learn as much as you can. You don’t need to watch videos to know what to do in an emergency – just read the memos and be prepared. As for the military-style murder videos, it is unlikely that you will find yourself in such a situation in the near future, so they will not be useful.

However, it is not always possible to find good alternatives. If you have already watched a shocking video and feel sick, these simple tips can help you recover.

Take a break and do something calming. Mechanical activities such as organizing things on a shelf or washing dishes are good. Any activity that helps bring you back to reality will do.
Focus on physical sensations. Pay attention to what you see and hear around you, what you feel with your skin, what you smell.
Use a technique that you are familiar with for expressing emotions. For some people, writing a letter may be helpful; for others, drawing or dancing your condition may be helpful. Any way to release emotions that does not harm others will do.
Do not hesitate to ask for support. For example, from family, friends, or a psychologist. Sometimes just talking is enough to make things easier. It is important that these are people you trust.
Limit your viewing of such content, at least temporarily. If you feel that violent videos are upsetting you, you don’t want to further traumatize yourself.

If you cannot eliminate violent content from your life (for example, because of your job), try to understand your norm – how much violent content you can watch without harming your health – and stay within it.

Don’t neglect basic self-care. These tips sound trite, but they are critical to maintaining mental (and physical) health. Get enough sleep, eat a nutritious diet, get plenty of exercise, and engage in activities that bring you pleasure, or at least peace.

This is especially important for those whose senses have become so dulled that the next death video no longer evokes emotion. Make self-care a priority, and don’t be afraid to seek professional help if you feel you can’t cope.

In the book “Looking at Other People’s Suffering,” mentioned at the beginning of this letter, Susan Zontag writes about how photo and video testimonies do not allow us to even closely imagine what the participants in the terrible events felt.

“‘We’ – that’s all of us who have not experienced anything like this – cannot understand. Not to embrace with our minds. Not to imagine what it’s like. We can’t imagine how terrible, how horrible war is – and how commonplace it becomes. We can’t understand, we can’t feel it. This is the firm conviction of every soldier, every journalist, every medic and independent observer who has been under fire and happily escaped the death that took those who were close by. And they are right.”

Since we can’t feel what the people in the video feel anyway, is it worth traumatizing ourselves on purpose? It’s probably better to put your energy into helping the victims – or preparing for an emergency.