What People Who Watch Reality Shows Lack - Insights from German Scientists 0 12

Millions of people are engrossed in watching reality shows that depict the lives of ordinary people and celebrity heroes in 'live' conditions — with drama, arguments, emotions, questionable behavior, and competition that makes viewers feel invested.

Psychologists link the love for reality shows to a subconscious desire to peek into others' lives, and researchers have found out who watches them most often. It turns out they share common traits, according to a study conducted by the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.

The researchers discovered that those who love watching reality shows are often people with low self-esteem, writes the publication Focus. Such shows are not entertainment for them but rather a psychological refuge. Reality shows help escape from reality, temporarily dull negative emotions, loneliness, inner emptiness, and feelings of depression.

People with low self-esteem often make comparisons with those who are worse off than they are — with more awkward, less competent, unbalanced individuals who find themselves in embarrassing situations. And reality shows are full of such characters: there, heroes often lose control, fight, cry, feel jealous, and are publicly exposed. This can create a fleeting feeling of, 'Well, I'm not that bad.' Reality shows also provide a sense of social closeness. Viewers feel an emotional connection with the participants, discuss them, empathize with them, and feel upset for them. People perceive media characters as close friends. Lonely and insecure individuals are particularly susceptible to this, researchers note.

In contrast, people with stable self-esteem usually consume such video content more consciously, and even if they watch reality shows, it is occasionally, for entertainment, and with a healthy dose of irony.

The researchers emphasize that they do not in any way devalue reality shows and their fans. It is complete nonsense that only stupid people watch such television programs. Occasionally watching reality shows can even be beneficial for quickly stimulating emotions, relieving mental tension, and temporarily distracting from one's own life and problems.

The problem arises when media becomes a constant substitute for emotional regulation. 'If you are seriously invested in reality shows, it is worth honestly asking yourself the question: 'Why do I need this so often?' — researchers suggest reflecting on this.