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“68% of reality TV viewers thought it was natural for girls to be ‘catty and competitive’ with each other, while only 50% of non-viewers did,” Jen Christensen of CNN News said.
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Many viewers of reality TV are so devoted to the shows that they’re watching, they become addicted and feel like they cannot miss a single episode.
“Every sunday night at nine o’clock pm, I am on my couch ready to indulge into what kind of drama the Kardashians will stir up with their family tonight,” Jenna Sputo, a Westlake High School student, admitted.
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Many viewers of reality TV say they watch to see the naughty behavior between guidos and guidettes at the Jersey shore, or to see the catfights of attention seeking families. However, next time you wallow in the an episode of your favorite reality TV series, remember the foolish actions these characters make are actually their life choices, not part of a script.
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Many critics of reality TV shows state that watching the actions and interactions among the stars plays a major role in today’s teenagers lives. Christensen quotes psychologist Sarah Coyne: “Research shows in the short term our own concepts of aggression are activated in the brain when we watch these shows, and we are primed to behave aggressively.”
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Researchers also say that “more than 1,000 11- 17 year old girls found that those who said they regularly watch reality TV did ‘accept and expect a higher level of drama, aggression, and bullying in their own lives,’” Christensen said.
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However, some may think that reality TV has a positive effect on society. Viewers think that when they watch these shows, they feel as if they can relate to the troubles these reality stars face, and deal with their own problems based on what the cast does. But, what they fail to realize is that most of these reality stars do not make rational decisions.
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As you watch these series of shows, just remember that the crazy reality TV cast members are not people to look up to.
Works Cited:
Christensen, Jen. “Our Unhealthy love of reality TV.” CNN. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2016. <http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/28/health/reality-tv-bullies/>.