Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/the-psychology-behind-why-we-love-reality-tv-shows/
Americans spend one-third of their free time watching TV, and 67% of that time is spent on reality shows. We’re living in what could be called the golden age of reality television, where millions tune in to watch strangers fall in love, compete for cash prizes, or navigate dramatic friendships. 2025 was a fantastic year for reality TV, with competition-based shows like The Traitors taking off running alongside day-to-day lives like The Real Housewives. Let’s be real, we all have that one reality show we can’t stop talking about at work.
Yet beneath the guilty pleasure label lies something more intriguing. There’s actual psychological machinery at work when we press play on our favorite show. From the way our brains process social cues to the dopamine hits that keep us coming back, reality TV triggers some surprisingly complex mental responses. So what exactly makes these unscripted dramas so irresistible?
Social Comparison Makes Us Feel Better About Ourselves
Ever caught yourself feeling oddly satisfied watching someone make terrible decisions on a dating show? That’s social comparison theory in action. Social comparison theory is the idea that individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stack up against others. When we watch reality TV, we’re constantly sizing ourselves up against the cast members.
Social comparison theory can help illuminate…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-01-05 06:23:00
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