Why do reality tv

Some can handle fleeting fame, while others try desperately to hold on to it. They spend most of their time after the show seeking the rush once felt with becoming an instant celebrity [source: Rooney ]. The lure of instant fame is overwhelmingly real for some. Ten percent of British teenagers say they would abandon their chances of a good education if they could become a star on reality television.

The teens were motivated by money and success [source: Cassidy]. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close.

Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Prev NEXT. Television and Culture. Among the most serious complaints is the allegation that the shows rely on viewers' enjoyment of the humiliation and degradation of participants. It is quite difficult to find an individual who is indifferent to such programs.

We either hate reality shows or we watch them, quite often without considering why. Up until now, scholarly opinion on the subject has been divided. Some maintain that the shows' appeal constitutes an extension of fictional drama, and is thus driven by positive feelings like empathy and compassion. Others claim that reality TV viewers are driven by a voyeuristic desire to intrude on others and to see them in their most private and embarrassing moments.

Participants stated how often they watched each show, how much they enjoyed the shows, the extent to which they would want to participate if offered a chance, how happy they would be if a family member was interested in participating, etc.

The idea behind the questions about loved ones participating was to measure attitudes towards participation at a slight distance, independent from the respondents' own personality traits and willingness to participate.

Shitrit and Cohen assumed that if people do not wish to be humiliated or see their loved ones publicly humiliated, and at the same time they enjoy reality shows for the humiliation involved, one would expect a negative correlation between enjoyment and willingness to participate.

If, on the other hand, empathy is the main reason why people enjoy these shows, the correlation should be positive. Shitrit and Cohen concluded that this tricky and innovative test of the real reasons behind enjoyment of reality shows allowed them to discover that humiliation is not the central motivation, which must rather be empathy.

Are these findings good news for all those who enjoy reality shows and for those who would like to perceive human creatures as good and positive? I would not be so eager to shout the good news to the whole world.

We tend to feel the same way about characters in books, in movies, in TV series. I actually also feel the same way about the video game The Sims: in particular, about the action of making up your own character and seeing it play out life in a different way than you normally would. More so, I find that watching reality TV shows helps me put into perspective much of the over-thinking I do.

This is undoubtedly thanks to the light-heartedness of the atmosphere created and the plots encouraged by the producers. These offer a welcome break from the stresses and worrying of our busy lives. Although many say that watching reality TV is a low-brow activity driven by a voyeuristic desire to intrude on others, I disagree.

Much like educating yourself by for example reading loads of books and attending university, I believe that reality TV too can to a certain extent be didactical. Anything we read or watch is food for the brain. I think that reality TV shows are a great way to shed light on other lifestyles that we are not usually exposed to. This means that we are exposed to new ways of thinking, talking, and of behaving which will open up our minds and our social knowledge. We may compare watching reality TV shows to traveling: the more you travel, the more your mind will be stretched outside your comfort zone.

According to clinical psychologist Dr. Jana Scrivani ,. This sense of having a personal relationship is amplified with the 'reality' label, even though we are aware that it's greatly exaggerated. So, we may argue that reality TV shows help us increase our ability to feel empathy. We might then be able to transfer this skill to our actual lives, helping us to feel closer and more connected to the people around us.

Overall, I think it comes down to the simple fact that - for the most part - reality TV shows are entertaining.