The psychologist explained the popularity of the genre of tru-edge among Russians

The interest in true-edge content is related to an attempt to understand the nature of evil, reduce anxiety, and learn to recognize danger. Clinical psychologist Anastasia Helemelya told Izvestia about this on April 24.

"I consider the fascination with work not as a pathology, but as a complex psychological phenomenon that performs a number of functions for the psyche," she noted.

According to the expert, an interest in the psychology of criminals helps people cope with uncertainty. Encountering violent and inexplicable actions causes cognitive dissonance, and trying to understand the attacker's motives allows you to regain a sense of predictability in the world.

The expert emphasized that the interest is based on several mechanisms: the desire for security, an attempt to live forbidden emotions in a safe form, and the desire to restore justice.

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"[True-edge] is a kind of modern folklore that warns of dangers. Women, as in ancient times around the campfire, pass on to each other the knowledge of how to recognize a predator," explained Helemela.

She added that regular viewing of such content can have different effects on the psyche. In people with increased anxiety, it increases fears, causes obsessive thoughts and sleep disorders. At the same time, with moderate anxiety, such content can work as a form of adaptation, reducing the reaction to fear.

According to the expert, true-edge also creates an ambivalent perception of security. On the one hand, there is a feeling that the world is more dangerous than it really is, on the other hand, there is a sense of control due to knowledge of potential threats.

Helemela noted that the interest in such stories is also related to exploring the boundaries of morality. The expert also pointed out the differences in audience motivation. Women are more likely to be interested in stories from the perspective of victim safety and behavior, while men pay attention to the mechanisms of crimes and investigations. According to her, the key criterion for the impact of such content remains a person's well-being: if anxiety increases after watching, this is a signal to limit consumption.

Oksana Panina, a business psychologist, reported on April 13 that impostor syndrome and the real discrepancy between the position may manifest themselves with similar feelings, but require different solutions - from working with self—esteem to changing the professional path. According to the expert, the widespread idea that impostor syndrome is always associated with failures is not true.