Over the last decade or so, reality TV has become
increasingly popular, and a main source of entertainment for many. I’ll be the first to admit I watch way more
reality TV shows than is probably healthy, and I’m sure many of you can
relate. The list can go on forever, with
popular shows such as Housewives, Jersey Shore, Dance Moms, and Honey Boo Boo,
to name a few. The question is whether
or not constant viewing of these “reality” shows is becoming a danger to our
mental health. In this article,
psychologist Reef Karim investigates the effect that reality TV can have on our
minds. Our obsession with reality TV first stems from the cast members themselves, who in most cases are just normal
people trying to get their 15 minutes of fame and gain attention that they have
desperately lacked. For the viewers,
watching these shows is a way for us to identify with these “real life”
characters across our TV screens.
According to the
article, people who participate in reality TV shows are “cast” on the shows,
and given tests to see if their personalities would attract viewers. They are also screened and interviewed to see
if they are psychologically able to handle being on the show. However, if you screen out everyone who has
some sort of personality disorder, it would not make for an entertaining
show. After the show is filmed and the
adoration of the cast members has died down, the participants, especially those
with predisposed mental health conditions, become mentally unstable after
filming the show.
On the side of the viewers, reality TV viewing becomes unhealthy when we begin living vicariously through the TV show participants, and when we don’t need stimulation or activity in our own lives because we are getting it from TV. The article also suggests that our ability to connect with each other authentically and to deal with anger, conflict, and anxiety has been seriously challenged. However, there could be a positive, educational side to reality TV viewing. Certain shows may motivates us to go out and learn a new skill, or learn more about addiction or whatever the focus of the show is.
On the side of the viewers, reality TV viewing becomes unhealthy when we begin living vicariously through the TV show participants, and when we don’t need stimulation or activity in our own lives because we are getting it from TV. The article also suggests that our ability to connect with each other authentically and to deal with anger, conflict, and anxiety has been seriously challenged. However, there could be a positive, educational side to reality TV viewing. Certain shows may motivates us to go out and learn a new skill, or learn more about addiction or whatever the focus of the show is.
So what do you think? Is reality TV a danger to our mental
health, or a harmless means of education and motivation?
One aspect I don't think was concentrated on enough in the article was the psychological affect on the viewer - why do we watch Jersey Shore? Are we really interested in seeing what exciting and intellectual endeavors Snooki's been up to over the last week? As the article posted below argues, "reality TV allows viewers to imagine themselves as actual participants." We compare our mental and decision-making predispositions to those featured on air, affirming or negating our confidence in them. It's a chance for us to observe the exaggerated failures of individuals we relate to, and then say to ourselves, "Gee, glad that's not me." We even point fingers laughing, saying "Look how stupid she is," numbing the burns of the mistakes we have made, because "they certainly aren't as bad as THAT."
ReplyDeleteThe article also argues the concept of "hyperauthenticity," which creates a highly individualized TV viewing experience, leading us to believe that because we watch these people's lives on TV, we automatically know everything about them. Ever heard of the guy on YouTube screaming for people to "leave Britney alone!" (warning: profanities involved) because of "all she's been through?" Well, in all honesty, does he know Britney Spears personally? No. Does he know she’s truly this lovely person on the inside? No. That “pop star effect” (which I'm totally guilty of) makes us feel that because we see a celebrity in a magazine or on E! nightly news, we know everything about them and their lives, or see them as completely perfect, leading to those Jonas Brother obsessions in which we can't decide to marry Nick or Joe (sorry Kevin). Sometimes these can turn to extremes, like the crazed Paula Abdul fan who committed suicide outside Abdul’s house in 2008.
I think reality TV is negative in the way it places individuals on a pedestal in order for us to feel good about ourselves. Additionally, the new hyperauthenticity the media provides blurs the lines between reality and entertainment, which is dangerous for our psychological well-being.
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500368_162-783814.html
After watching countless reality shows, this is probably the first time I truly thought about why I waste my time watching. For me, I find that I watch shows like the Housewives because how often do you see grown women fighting like a group 15 year olds? How many people do you know that live and behave like Honey Boo Boo? How many of us can say we had a dance teacher like Abby Lee Miller? People find enjoyment in watching other people's lives because they seem so much more interesting. And by interesting, this could be mean crazy, depressing, unhealthy, wild, or hilarious. But with these shows, we can watch these people make horrible mistakes on national TV from the safety and comfort of our couch. Like Jess said, we can laugh at Snooki's drunken mistakes or feel bad for Chloe when Maddie wins first place again (Dance Moms reference). But lucky for us, we don't have to carry Snooki home from the club and hold her hair away from the toilet.
ReplyDeleteI think reality TV for most sane people like ourselves, is just for enjoyment and a way to unwind after a long day at school. We all lead pretty average lives, in a sense that hopefully none of us have drug issues or have experienced any type of abuse. But with these shows we can learn about such things without actually going out and experimenting with whatever the case may be. Reality shows are not so much reality, they just give a glimpse of how a small group of people live, so when we are off in the real world we are aware of the different types of people, and that is if we ever encounter them.
I agree that watching reality tv is exciting and I also agree that seeing how messed up people are makes us feel better about ourselves, like Jess said. However, I don't think we are any worse off for watching it than we were in the past. In the past, you could walk into a mini mart and find tons of tabloids about how Elvis is actually alive or Martians were actually running our government, now those magazines have been replaced by the Kardashian et al. Despite these things in our society we still make medical and technological advances. So, I don't consider honey boo boo to be a serious concern.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting how although the article and Jess were talking about how reality shows affected viewers with the feeling of "hyper-authenticity," I actually get completely turned off from reality shows because they feel overly exaggerated, staged, and fake (and as such I don't watch any reality tv shows). This illusion of hyper-authenticity leads to negative effects for both the viewers and the people on the show. For the people on the show, what will they do once their fame dies down and they no longer have a job? Does this affect their ability to be an active and productive part of society in ways not relating to the entertainment business? And the effects on the viewers, as Jess mentioned, can be extreme and disproportionate to what they should be for a tv show. With fictional television, the viewers have use (subconsciously or consciously) a device called suspension of disbelief; in reality tv shows, they don't and this leads to viewers sometimes believing that everything that happens on the show is actual reality, when much of the time, it's not.
ReplyDeleteI believe that reality TV does in fact harm the mental capacities of viewers. On several occasions while meeting new people, I have encountered: “Oh my God! You’re from Jersey AND you’re Italian!!? Do you know J Woww!!? Or the Housewives!!? Do you guys go down the shore like every weekend??” I then awkwardly admit that nobody in my family is a guido, my mom is not a housewife, and that I rarely go down the shore because I vacation in Massachusetts. However, the stereotype of typical Jersey household is so exaggerated and broadcasted so widely that everyone assumes that real life in Jersey is just like Snooki’s.
ReplyDeleteReality TV displays the extremists of society—the individuals with huge personalities that show up well on camera. Millions of people across the nation are tricked into thinking that reality show participants and the situations portrayed on camera are in fact real, raw, and unedited. However, reality shows are scripted, and individuals are cast based on the producers’ desires to gain views. Therefore, reality shows are in fact the furthest thing from reality. Instead of capturing ordinary, boring, and uneventful life, they display distorted versions of reality. This constant broadcasting of false ‘real-life’ situations is the furthest thing from healthy. However, even I must admit that I have watched countless Jersey Shore marathons over the past few years. Although incredibly unrealistic, reality TV it is a multi-million dollar business, and we all can’t help but watch.
I believe that reality TV shows affect each person differently. Everyone watches at least one reality show from time to time. Most watch reality TV to laugh at the stupidity of others. However, it is time to be concerned when you hear that "Suzie wants to grow up to be just like Snooki." I believe that it is important to take reality TV with a grain of salt. It's NOT really "reality!" Do you spend six hours in hair and make up like Kim Kardashian does? That just does not happen! Reality TV, for the most part, is completely staged. It doesn't capture anyone in the moment that things are happening - most shows are completely scripted. Reality TV is all about capturing an audience, as is most TV. The concern arises, however, when the audience becomes enamored with the oompa loompa, carpe diem lifestyle of Jersey Shore members, for example. I think age plays a factor in one's susceptibility to reality TV as well. Are 17 and 18 year old's the ones fake tanning, exposing parts of themselves that don't need to be exposed, or picking up on attitudes or behaviors that no one should have? Not really. For the most part, it's the 12-15 year old's that have become the mini Snooki's and Situation's of the world. Seventeen and eighteen year old's have a stronger sense of self I believe and don't let a reality show mold their personalities and change who they are. However, younger kids and even "tweens" look up to TV show characters. Why do you think people were so concerned when Miley Cyrus "took a turn for the worst," and grew up? No one wanted their children to follow in her footsteps. However, with reality TV overwhelming the public, it's become inevitable that reality TV is here to stay.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons I watch reality TV is because it is comforting to see how out of control people are because it makes me feel better about myself in a way. Also, reality TV shows are pure entertaining and lastly, they are easier to relate to. For example, I watch Dance Moms because I am a dancer, I watch Housewives of New Jersey because I live in New Jersey and I'll watch Jersey Shore every now and then because I have spent many summer days at Seaside Boardwalk. However, I have to agree with everyone who is saying that it is difficult to think that we are worse off for watching reality TV shows. I do not see how we can blame society's faults on harmless TV shows. They are purely for entertainment which is a quality that everyone needs a little bit of.
ReplyDeleteI also completely agree with Devin when she says that "hyper-authenticity" actually turns off viewers because the shows then become staged and fake. For example, I used to watch Jersey Shore but then quickly decided to stop because it gave viewers a false impression of what people from New Jersey and Italian Americans are like.
I think that reality TV is a little bit of both, dangerous and harmless. There are many people out there who watch reality TV for purely entertainment purposes, like me. I have never watched Jersey Shore or Housewives, but I've watched Dance Moms since the beginning. I used to dance competitively, which is how I started to watch the show. Since I have no time in my schedule for dance anymore, its nice to have a TV show that keeps me connected with that world. But there are other cases where I think reality TV can be dangerous. I have a younger brother and when Jersey Shore first came out he was in 5th grade. When I was his age I was watching Disney Channel still, but the majority of kids in his class were watching Jersey Shore. I think in that case my brother and his friends were growing up a little too fast because the 'cool' thing to do was watch Jersey Shore. So I think that depending on the purpose and the person reality TV can be dangerous or harmless.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think that watching hours and hours of reality T.V. can be a waste of time, I don’t think it is psychologically harmful for all viewers. I think most people realize that reality T.V. shows are not completely real and accurate, but are dramatic and sometimes staged, in order to make them fun to watch. I think most people watch these shows simply for entertainment and that these shows have no worse effect than scripted shows, even though there will always be a few people who may believe everything they see on T.V. As for the participants in these shows, I do believe that they can be psychologically harmed, just like any celebrity or person who is suddenly famous and the center of attention.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, I think watching reality TV shows is detrimental to society. While it can be informative about different things such as the negatives of drugs and alcohol, it can also provoke people to trying these things. Although people know certain things are bad for them, they sometimes tend to do them anyway because they want to see what it is like to experience things for themselves. By exposing things such as drugs and alcohol on reality TV shows, the viewers may get the idea that it is okay to try these things since other people are doing it on national television. At the same time, reality TV shows could incite people to do things that aren't detrimental to themselves such as learning a new skill, just as Gina said. In this case, reality TV could benefit the viewer. In order to really judge whether or not reality TV is detrimental or beneficial, it all depends of what is being aired on the shows. However, I don't think that the benefits of reality shows outweigh the negatives since they sometimes lead to people doing things that tragically affect themselves.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Christine in that I often watch reality TV just to see how crazy people can be with a camera on them 24/7. For some reason, it's entertaining to watch Snooki make a drunken mess of herself on the beach and bet with my sister on which Beverley Hills housewife will win the screaming match this time. Just as we can't look away from everyday disasters, like the common saying, "It's like watching a train wreck," we naturally find comfort and entertainment in watching other people make stupid mistakes and do irrational things. While many believe reality shows are damaging to viewers, they give me a somewhat greater appreciation for my life, family, and friends all being stable. Stars of reality TV can't go out without instantly being judged by their show and how they're portrayed on television, and have therefore lost all sense of normalcy in their lives. To me, that's a scary thought. I've come to appreciate being a viewer, on the outside looking in. I've even learned some lessons from various reality shows on the consequences of certain actions and how NOT to act in particular situations.
ReplyDeleteI think that reality TV can become unhealthy depending on how much you watch; however, the episode once a week is not going to kill your sanity. I think that watching mindless shows like these actually help our sanity and get our minds off work for a little. But when I say this I am directing it towards teenagers…it is a completely different story for kids. I was actually disturbed by Kaitlyn’s comment that kids in fifth grade are being exposed to this. I would like to say for the most part teens know that the behavior on reality TV is not normal and we should not act like that, but some kids like young fifth graders do not. The topics on these shows are completely inappropriate for that age level. It becomes unhealthy when kids, or anybody for that matter, look at these reality TV stars as role models. When the “stars” become idolized and people start wearing t-shirts with them on it is where I draw the line; that is not healthy let alone sane.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do agree that reality TV can cause negative stereotypes and is often a waste of time, I don't think it is any more harmful than other TV shows. I think shows like Gossip Girl or Secret Life of the American Teenager have just as bad, if not worse, messages. I personally think that the reason reality TV is so captivating is because since they are "real" people living "true stories" we are able to relate on an extremely personal level. I'm not saying we are all relating to the Amish people on Breaking Amish, or that we connect with the characters' challenges with dwarfism on Little People Big World. But, I do think in a way, we connect with all of these shows. For example, although none of us are Amish, I think we can all relate to disagreeing with your parents and wanting to experience the world. Similarly, although none of us are little people, we can all relate to feeling out of place at some point in our lives and overcoming obstacles because of it. Like everyone else said, I think that reality TV is so captivating because of how much we can relate to it.
ReplyDeleteI think reality TV is unhealthy depending on your age or rather maturity. I feel the older you get, the more you become your own person in life. You know your values and how you act with your friends and towards other people. I don't think watching reality TV will impact your way of life as much as it would say a 6th grader. A 6th grader that is trying to find themselves and understand they're life may, without realizing it, mold to what they see on TV. We see it all the time with singers and songwriters. Girls are always dressing with how Miley Cyrus just dressed. Why not act the same with TV if they don't have the discretion to see that that's "not how you act"?
ReplyDeletePlus, I know when I was little I always wanted to be older. So, honestly if I were younger and watching Jersey Shore, I would think, okay I want to be older, therefore have older friends, and this is how older people act in "real life" so I should act like this. This is extremely unhealthy because it provides this false sense of real life and while this may be okay for those that are older, for young susceptible minds this could be extremely harmful.
I don't think reality TV is any more harmful to a viewer than any other show out there- the only time I can really imagine it being harmful would be if an episode focused on something potentially triggering to a viewer, which is of no fault to anyone involved in the show. It's no different than a victim of a violent crime watching an episode of Law and Order and feeling distressed- I think, except for extreme cases, reality TV isn't any more harmful than any other show on television.
ReplyDeleteThose extreme cases, of course, are the only cases we wind up seeing, like a little girl who tans because she wants to be more like Snooki, or acting like Honey Boo Boo or something or other- these are all the things that are, yeah, completely ridiculous and not that great for kids to be modeling, but it's also something we'd hear about if they were dressing like a character from iCarly, or Hannah Montana- two completely fictitious shows that really don't have too much a basis in reality.
Kids will be influenced by anything, it's practically their job. They're just learning to be their own person, and while some things out there might not be the best things for them to imitate, they're going to anyway, because that's how kids learn what they like and dislike, or what works for them and what doesn't. It's a learning process, and reality TV has just somehow integrated itself into that system in a completely harmless way.
I believe that there are two types of Reality TV shows, one being harmful and one being beneficial to viewers. Reality TV shows can be harmful with shows such as Jersey Shore, Teen Mom, and Honey Boo Boo because they expose unique lifestyles that those in most societies don't often support. They portray ordinary people who live such extraordinary lives and act uncontrollably or just impolitely that become entertaining for us to watch onscreen. They can often have a negative influence on viewers, but only if the viewers aren't mature or intelligent enough to realize the difference between television and real-life. While certain Reality TV shows can be harmful, some can also be beneficial to viewers with shows like Extreme Makeover, American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance. Whether it be shows like Extreme Makeover, which teaches the viewers the importance of giving back to others, or competition shows such as American Idol and So you Think You Can Dance, which motivate viewers to reach for their dreams, these shows all provide a lesson for its audience. Watching these types of Reality TV shows can really influence a viewer in a positive way because there is always a message that comes with watching the show.
ReplyDeleteEveryone experiences things in different ways. Children are more likely to be influenced by harmful Reality TV shows than adults because they just aren't mature enough to comprehend that the lifestyles shown on TV aren't the "normal" ways to live. Those cast on the show had to be chosen for some reason, such as being unusually hard to deal with, which supports the idea that we should not be influenced by the few people who make up these shows because Reality TV shows ironically don't always accurately depict reality; they are just there for entertainment. In conclusion, I believe that Reality TV shows can be both harmful and beneficial to viewers depending on the show and the maturity of its audience.
I agree with Michelle, there are two distinct types of reality television shows one which can foster educational learning and the other which is highly entertaining, mindless television. There are shows about cooking, baking, real estate and competition shows such as American Idol or the Voice which foster an individual's talents and creativity as well as provide helpful advice to viewers. Then there are shows such as The Real Housewives or Jersey Shore. I must admit, that I do religiously watch The Real Housewives of New Jersey and Beverly Hills and I have often wondered why I am so mesmerized with these people. Sometimes, I feel as though we adore these people with their expensive designer clothes and mega mansions or people who party all day and all night without a care in the world and hope to one day become just like them. People are also entertained with all of the drama on these shows and feel that since what is on the show is what happens in "real life" then they can mimic the outrageous actions of these people. Reality television can sometime put an idea in our head which could possibly lead to unhappiness and a false sense of what reality actually is.
ReplyDeleteI would hesitate to say that reality TV is generally good for its viewers, but I also don't think that it is necessarily bad for everyone. I think it just depends on the viewer's perspective. When mature people with a developed sense of self watch shows like Jersey Shore and Teen Mom, they watch, they laugh, they roll their eyes, and when the show is done, they turn off the TV and move on with their lives. But I also think that the group of viewers most targeted by reality shows, tweens and young teenagers, are also the group that is most susceptible to its negative influences. I think that to the age group a little younger than ourselves, it is harder to make a distinction between reality TV and reality and that they would be much more likely to really look up to the scandalous behaviors of those in the media.
ReplyDeleteI also think that, to some extent, reality TV has changed society's concept of normal. While I don't think most people would watch Teen Mom and be inspired to go get pregnant at 15, I think it does normalize something that, to generations before ours, would be shameful and tabooed. People think, "I don't really want to go get pregnant, but if I do it's not a big deal. Other people do it too." Because society is receiving these messages from everywhere in the media, I think that behavior found on the Jersey Shore and Teen Mom has become more socially acceptable.