Member-only story
Why Do People Like to be Entertained by Other People’s Lives?
Are we dissatisfied with our own lives or are we sadists?
Have you ever wondered why reality TV shows are so popular? Or have you noticed how articles, centering on either people’s suffering or people’s successes, are trending? Why do people write about misery, depression, lives gone bad, lost loves, and failure? Better yet, why do we like to read about them? I think the answers to these questions are as varied as the questions themselves.
I remember as a teenager watching a television show called “The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”, where the lives of the extremely wealthy were showcased. I had friends who were glued to their TV sets every week, so as not to miss the show, secretly wishing that someday they too would enjoy that kind of lifestyle. Today I guess the children of those people now faithfully follow the Kardashians. As far as I know, none of my friends ever achieved the wealth or notoriety of their television idols. Some fared much worse.
Today’s reality shows run the gambit from adventure to people suffering from mental or behavioral disorders. We can watch people compete in challenges of physical and mental endurance for monetary rewards and cheer on our favorite contestants, secretly wishing we could compete. We can watch people with…
