What reality TV reveals about us
‘Ah, yes, I’ve seen those psychologists on TV. Usually they’re on Big Brother commenting on the latest housemate meltdown. You do that do you?’ — just one of the questions I’ve been asked since completing my MSc.
Okay, I’ll admit I do enjoy a Big Brother meltdown every once in a while but I’m not a clinical psychologist. So rather than analysing the behavioural well-being of the housemates, I tend to sit in front the TV asking myself a lot of questions, for example, ‘Why is this show still popular?’ ‘What is it that viewers are getting from it?’ and ‘Does watching say more about us, than it does about the housemates?’ As these questions suggest, I don’t analyse people on TV, but instead am interested in those watching TV, and interacting with all kinds of media and technology for that matter.
The study of media psychology over the past 80 or so years, has produced a number of theories and models that help us to identify what motivates our media and technology choices and importantly what we’re seeking to get from the experiences we have, be they good, bad or indifferent. Take reality TV for example.
In 2004, researchers Reiss and Wiltz focused on measuring a wide number of human needs and motivations in relation to reality TV viewing, based on Reiss’ sensitivity theory of 16 desires. These include social contact, curiosity, power, acceptance and idealism. According to their study, the more status-orientated people were, the more likely they were to watch reality TV; effectively out a need to feel self-important and superior. This study also found that in glorifying the experience of ordinary people, reality TV allowed ordinary viewers to fantasize about becoming celebrities themselves. Reality TV viewers, they found, may also be more motivated by vengeance. Yes, our motivations may sometimes be on the darker side!
By contrast, a 2007 exploratory study into the appeal of reality TV by Papacharissi and Mendelson, used quantative methodology to identify motives for watching. In short, their study revealed viewers tended to be rather passive — i.e. they used reality TV to fill time, so much so that it became a part of their daily routine; habit-forming even. Participants also revealed the more they perceived the content to be realistic, the greater their affinity for the medium and the more they enjoyed it. In addition they reported being drawn to the entertainment aspect rather than gaining gratification as voyeurs; unusual given preconceptions about people enjoying what some might call the ‘housemate bear pit’ as a form of entertainment. That’s not to say voyeurism doesn’t play its part though. It’s not something people will necessarily willingly report!
So, as this short post suggests, our reasons for watching reality TV shows like Big Brother, Ex On The Beach or Next Top Model, aren’t clear-cut, especially when viewer demographics and cultures are factored in. Human beings are complex, especially where their own wants and needs are concerned. I may not be an on camera TV psychologist, but as a behind the camera media psychologist, I am able to connect with people to explore and understand human motivation, engagement and gratification in relation media and tech use, and importantly, my aim is to share that insight with media and brand practitioners, designers and technologists alike.
