For decades, people have become addicted to reality TV shows and see them as one of the biggest sources of entertainment in their daily lives.
Whether it's following the lives of celebrities or finding out whether the contestant will find love, viewers always get invested in their journey.
Let's explore people's addiction to the reality TV genre.
Reality TV as Escapism
One simple explanation of why people are addicted to reality TV shows is that they see it as a source of escapism from their daily lives.
As Dr. Maria Fazal from Baltimore, Maryland explained, watching reality shows is "plain old fun, regardless of what some who watch highbrow shows might say" and it "can be a shared experience with friends, family, and online communities."
Regardless of what you feel about reality shows, you cannot deny that it is a valuable source of entertainment for many.
Reality shows could even be a source of education for some as they learn about different cultures, skills, and careers and they could also get inspired to have new hobbies and interests.
Hypnotherapist Dr. Iain Lightfoot also suggested that human beings tend to be more voyeuristic. In the case of Below Deck, the "voyeuristic pleasure, combined with the reality TV format's promise of unscripted content, makes the show irresistibly engaging."
The Psychology of Reality TV Addiction
Psychologists and mental health experts have weighed in on people's obsession with reality TV and dissected why it is a source of addiction.
Cognitive scientist John Francis Leader explained, "We innately have two competing drives: one, to be safe and comfortable, and the other, to enjoy adventure and risk. While in real life these can be diametrically opposed, reality television meets both of them at the same time."
Meanwhile, psychiatrist Carole Lieberman also suggested that reality TV helps us feel connected whether it's to root for a contestant or watch the others get humiliated since their lives are exposed to the worldwide audience.
"We love reality TV because it allows us to live vicariously through the show participants without being publicly humiliated ourselves," she said.
"We like to watch others squirm, be humiliated, disappointed in love and other experiences that everyone goes through, so we can understand them better and not feel alone."
However, Lieberman also warned about the negative effects of reality TV obsession on our mental health.
"If we are learning about things we’re curious about and not just enjoying the misery of others, it can be good for us mentally. But if we are just enjoying putting others down, then this isn’t mentally healthy," she explained.
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