reality tv is harmless entertainment essay

The Washburn Review

• Subscribe to our newsletter!
• Download the College News Source app!

Reality TV distorts people’s perception of true reality

Sandhya Bhandari , Content Creator | February 21, 2023

courtesy of google images

Reality shows are TV programs that follow the lives of real people and is meant to be a source of entertainment. However, these shows represent how reality can be distorted through editing and deceiving impacting viewers’ perceptions of reality.

Reality shows can have positive effects on confidence and mental health, but they can also harm self-esteem and present an inaccurate depiction of reality. Linzi Gibson, an associate professor of psychology and cognitive neuroscience specialist, and Katrina Escobar, a recent psychology graduate, both expressed their ideas on how reality shows affect the views of people in the real world and real life.

“Reality shows have greatly impacted the entertainment industry, leading to the creation of numerous new shows. MTV was one of the first platforms for reality shows, which emerged during my teenage years,” said Gibson.

Gibson elaborated that the abundance of reality shows today is evidence of their influence, although younger generations may be less exposed to them due to their preference for online content. Nonetheless, reality shows remain influential, although their degree of influence may differ among generations

“Even though there has been progress in reducing mental health stigma, there is still a need for greater acceptance of therapy as a positive tool for mental well-being. The way mental health is portrayed in the media can be harmful, leading to negative thinking patterns and anxiety,” said Escobar.

She clarified that it is important to be aware of these portrayals to promote healthy attitudes and behaviors toward seeking help for mental health issues. When people feel pressure to conform to a group, they may overlook their mental well-being, leading to a loss of personal identity and disconnection from oneself.

According to the 2020 Hornet Newspaper , viewers of reality television think reality shows only show a small part of reality. Still, they enjoy it because it’s engaging, relatable and they can interact with it. They think that reality shows present a glamorous lifestyle, giving them the impression that their own lives could be like that.

“Watching reality shows can harm our self-esteem as we compare ourselves to more successful or attractive individuals. However, it can also boost our confidence when we see others struggling with problems,” said Gibson.

According to Gibson, reality shows influence our behavior and perception through observational learning. Reality shows are not always completely real, as they may include fictional elements. Watching these shows may cause people to have a distorted perception of reality, which could lead to actions or beliefs that are not ideal.

These shows have become a cultural phenomenon in many ways and people often think they feature real people in unscripted situations. So, viewers are often drawn to these shows because they can relate to the stars, and feel better about their own lives after watching them.Both Gibson and Escobar explained that reality TV shows can give viewers an inaccurate perception of reality due to the psychological mechanisms at play. It is crucial to prioritize one’s mental health and well-being. Reality TV shows, especially those that are scripted, are not a true reflection of reality. Participants may present a calculated version of themselves, and producers may manipulate events to create conflict. As a result, the reality depicted in these shows is often distorted. This portrayal of reality is not real, and viewers might be influenced to engage in negative behavior.

As opinion expressed by ucanews in 2020, these reality shows bring to light the harsh reality that some individuals gain fame by behaving in ways that are not true to their character. In a hostile environment, they may resort to being disrespectful to others, spreading negativity, or lying to climb their way to the top for fame.

Moreover, celebrity culture can be appealing as it presents an easy-to-follow ideal. Comparing oneself to others causes low self-esteem and an inability to appreciate what one has. However, it can be alluring and persuasive as it provides an effortless ideal to emulate and creates a false perception of reality since celebrities’ lives are often different from the average person. Wealthy individuals on these shows can prompt people to want expensive items despite their finances, and social media amplifies this effect. Unattainable goals and opulent lifestyles can harm mental health by reducing motivation, diminishing values and aspirations, and causing disappointment, shame, and hopelessness.

Reality shows can influence our behavior through observational learning, as people may imitate the behaviors they see on TV and compare themselves to the characters on the show. This can result in a desire to mimic the style or behavior of the reality show personalities, highlighting the significant role that these shows have in shaping our actions and thoughts.

Hence, it is necessary to research the popularity of reality TV shows by comparing the characteristics of people who watch them to those who do not. The research should include examining differences in goals and aspirations between the two groups. The speaker questions whether reality TV shows have a significant impact on society and whether their popularity is as high as people believe.

Edited by: Aja Carter, Rakesh Swarnakar and Simran Shrestha

• psychology department

Your donation will support the student journalists of Washburn University. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

Journalists remain untrusted within society

Washburn looks toward major campus changes in the near future

Black women reflect on their challenges in leadership

Washburn Review leaders say ‘Farewell’

Editorial: Are your ‘New Year, New Me’ resolutions possible?

BOB: What are your favorite fashion trends this year?

BOB: If you could choose one job for the rest of your life, what would it be?

What sport should Washburn add next?

BOB: Who do you think will win the presidential election?

Classes begin and construction continues for Plass Learning Resources Center

Comments (0).

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Pros and cons of reality TV shows

The First Post guide to the issue of the day

• Newsletter sign up Newsletter

ARGUMENTS FOR:

• We live in an age of mass culture. More people read tabloids than the broadsheets, and reality TV is a fair reflection of this.
• Elitism is out of date. People are no longer willing to accept only what broadcasters think is good for them. There is nothing wrong in giving people what they want.
• It is intrinsically fascinating to see how people speak and behave in unusual situations. This is why many intelligent people find themselves gripped by Big Brother and other reality shows. They teach us something about human nature and so broaden our experience.
• If we believe in freedom and free speech, then we have to accept reality TV as an expression of popular and democratic taste. Nobody is compelled to appear in reality TV programmes, or indeed to watch them.
• Reality TV is harmless fun. Only pompous people and snobs condemn it.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST:

• Reality TV is vulgar and shoddy. By creating pseudo-celebrities it contributes to the debasement of popular taste.
• It is often cruel, exposing the participants to gross humiliation for our amusement. This makes it the modern equivalent of going to laugh at the lunatics in Bedlam. The present row over racism on Big Brother shows how nasty it can be.
• It exploits the vulnerable, and has been condemned by the Mental Health Foundation for doing so.
• Popularity should not be the ultimate test of what is permissible. Public executions used to be popular and still are in some countries.
• It is nonsense to say that broadcasters shouldn't set standards or be obliged to adhere to codes of behaviour. We don't for instance allow them to promote racism or sectarianism or to incite violence. Reality TV is debasing and should be strictly controlled, if not banned altogether.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

the minaret

Reality TV Can Promote Dangerous Stereotypes

By Samantha Ryan [email protected] MTV reality series Jersey Shore changed the way people watch reality television. What was supposed to be a docudrama about eight young New Jersey natives partying in a seaside house for the summer became one of the most successful MTV reality shows in history. Jersey Shore became a global phenomenon, premiering…

By Samantha Ryan

[email protected]

MTV reality series Jersey Shore changed the way people watch reality television. What was supposed to be a docudrama about eight young New Jersey natives partying in a seaside house for the summer became one of the most successful MTV reality shows in history.

Jersey Shore became a global phenomenon, premiering in nearly 180 countries. Not only did it become known worldwide, but classes and conferences are now held at different universities about the show.

Some journalists refer to it as, “the most notable show of all time.”

The initial plan was to place these young men and women in a house filled with alcohol and cameras, and hope to capture some binge-worthy drama. Not only was the show unscripted, but the cameras were filming at all hours of the day. 

Cast member Nicole Polizzi, known as Snooki, said in a Rolling Stone article, “They have cameras everywhere, all the time … you’re always being watched. It messes with your head. But that’s why we go crazy. That’s why we fight with each other. That’s why we drink. The only time we’re not on camera is when we’re in the shower, and that’s why we all take three-hour showers, just to get away from it all.”

Rather than scripted, the behavior of the cast is enhanced to portray real-world behavior. Unnecessary film and scenes are intentionally cut out to leave the viewers with the most entertaining and exciting drama, increasing the ratings. Doing this may give the impression that this is how they act all the time, and how everyone like them may act all the time.

Though this led the show to massive success, it introduced different stereotypes. To remain successful, you have to exaggerate the so-called, “reality”. Violence and inappropriate behavior are heavily evident to keep the viewers interested. 

Doing this may give off the impression everyone from that area behaves this way. It can quickly become extremely offensive. Because this show portrays itself as reality, many viewers eventually accept the behavior as normal. This can become dangerous because not everything the cast does is acceptable in the real world. As entertaining and hilarious as Jersey Shore may be, the actions are not supposed to be taken seriously.

Jersey Shore’s median age audience is rounded at 23 years old. They’re probably  recent college grads, and possible party- goers. The main pool of viewers is the same age as the majority of the cast in season one. Many that watch the behavior on this show are influenced by what they see. Since Jersey Shore is deemed as the “reality” of these normal people, it may influence the viewers opinions on the way they should be acting at this age. 

Sammi Sweetheart and Ronnie are known for being the most toxic couple on Jersey Shore. Not only was this relationship verbally abusive, but emotionally and physically as well. Young viewers witnessing this relationship can get the impression that abuse is normal in a romantic relationship, in which of course, it is not. This can become dangerous when they decide to put up with this behavior in their real-world relationships.

Though Jersey Shore can promote inappropriate stereotypes, I believe the purpose of this show was nothing but harmless entertainment. Many people are easily offended, and the world is a sensitive place. 

Although, the intent of Jersey Shore was not to cause harm or imply aggression, the intent was to throw some young partiers in a house together and see what content they could capture and hopefully gain an audience to entertain. The inappropriate behavior and obvious poor decision making is unavoidable in this case. It may not be the best example, but it’s what makes the show so popular, the drama keeps it entertaining. 

Although reality television was not created to introduce dangerous stereotypical behavior, it can be deemed as harmless entertainment to one, but dangerous encouragement to another.

University of Missouri found dead at 22

Eternal Sunshine by Ariana Grande In-Depth Review

The Premier League Race Heats Up

Things Are Heating Up:

Discover more from the minaret.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Viewer Beware: Watching Reality TV Can Impact Real-Life Behavior

MTV's Jersey Shore starred, from left, Vinny Guadagnino, Angelina Pivarnick, Paul "DJ Pauly D" DelVecchio, Jenni "JWOWW" Farley, Ronnie Magro, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola. MTV/AP hide caption

MTV's Jersey Shore starred, from left, Vinny Guadagnino, Angelina Pivarnick, Paul "DJ Pauly D" DelVecchio, Jenni "JWOWW" Farley, Ronnie Magro, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola.

In the pilot episode of Jersey Shore , we're introduced in the first minute to the "new family": Snooki, JWoww, Vinny and the rest of the gang.

A few minutes later, Snooki has already questioned JWoww's sexual morals. Vinny is calling Snooki stupid. The new family is already getting gossipy and aggressive.

That unfriendly behavior is good for TV ratings, but it might be bad news for you, the viewer. A new study led by Bryan Gibson, a psychologist at Central Michigan University, finds watching reality shows with lots of what's called relational aggression — bullying, exclusion and manipulation — can make people more aggressive in their real lives.

"We knew from past research that people who see relational aggression in media tend to become more aggressive," he explains to Tess Vigeland, guest host of NPR's weekends on All Things Considered . "Gossiping and nastiness is prevalent on these shows, so we wanted to find out whether it affected how aggressive people were after they watched."

Related NPR Stories

Every Reality Show Is A True Story, And Other 'Bachelor' Lessons

Reality tv has become honey boo boo-ified, pop culture, reality tv turning young girls into fame monsters.

Each participant in the study watched one of three varieties of television: an aggressive surveillance show like Jersey Shore or Real Housewives , an uplifting surveillance show like Little People, Big World , or a fictional crime drama like CSI .

After they watched one episode, people were asked to do a separate task that measured aggression. The goal was to hit a keyboard button as quickly as possible. Participants believed they were racing against someone in another room and whoever won would get to blast the other person with a loud, shrill sound.

Gibson and his team took notes on how long participants wanted to blast the sound and how loud they turned the volume up. "It turns out those who had watched Jersey Shore or Real Housewives actually gave louder, longer blasts after watching those shows than those who watched the more violent crime dramas," he says.

Gibson is quick to point out that these findings are not a reason to censor what television content makes it on air. But, he says, it's probably worth taking note if you're a parent. "This is one form of media that may appear harmless, but I think our research provides a little bit of evidence that there can be some negative outcomes as well," he says.

• Jersey Shore

It’s Time to Start Taking Reality TV More Seriously

Danielle J. Lindemann ’10GSAS , a sociology professor at Lehigh University, understands reality TV better than practically anyone else. Her new book True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us takes an intellectual dive into a massively popular but maligned genre. 

Why should we take reality TV seriously?

Despite the stigma associated with lowbrow entertainment, studies reveal that more people in the US are watching reality TV than not, and nearly half of all TV series are unscripted. Media research has long shown that what we see on TV impacts our beliefs, values, and attitudes and how we move and act in the world.

I see reality TV as a kind of fun-house mirror, because it can show us ourselves in caricatured or amplified form. The genre reveals some of the worst things about society — sexism, racism, classism, materialism — and dials them up to eleven. But it also shows us the best of ourselves in its creativity. Historically, reality TV has been more diverse than other forms of media in its representation of people of color and queer people, even if those representations haven’t always been positive. Reality TV reveals how much society has evolved and, at the same time, how conservative it remains. 

You teach a course that pairs episodes of reality-TV shows with sociological readings. Which shows do you find particularly interesting?

I like RuPaul’s Drag Race , because it emphasizes how aspects of gender are performed in everyday life. A show like The Bachelor , with its fixation on marriage and rigid gender stereotypes, reveals how long-standing ideas about courtship still powerfully influence the way we think and behave. The Real Housewives franchise offers fascinating character studies and insight into group dynamics, while Keeping Up with the Kardashians explores the strength of the family unit.

What’s your take on why reality TV is so popular?  

Reality TV is voyeuristic. We like watching the “train wreck” character to remind ourselves that even if we’re messed up in our own ways, we are not the train wreck. We might feel smugly superior to the people on these shows. There is a freak-show aspect to this voyeurism too. Sometimes, it’s marginalized groups that are ridiculed, as in the case of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo , where the central family is portrayed as buffoonish and stereotypically lower-class.  

Reality TV involves real people ostensibly reacting to real-world situations, which allows us to put ourselves in the participants’ shoes and see flashes of ourselves. The genre tends to traffic in broad character archetypes — the “smart one” and the “shy one” and the “athletic one,” for example. There’s usually someone you can identify with and say “I’m a Bethenny” or “I’m a Ramona,” and so on. Reality TV is also unique in the way it encourages audience participation: we engage with the stars via social media and, with shows like The Voice or Love Island , we even vote on the outcomes. 

Binging reality TV, at least for me, can have a kind of anesthetic effect. Viewers do not need to see these shows as pure mirrors of life in order to enjoy and connect with them. We know they are constructed by producers and some scenes may be staged. Personally, I enjoy looking for “really real” moments, the smudges in the gloss — like when the Housewives haul out one another’s real-life text messages to read during reunion episodes. 

How has reality TV influenced other areas of society? 

Studies have shown various behaviors to be associated with watching reality TV; heavy viewers of the genre are more likely to drink alcohol, get fake tans, and use hot tubs on dates. While correlation does not necessarily equal causation, one well-known study established a link between viewership of 16 and Pregnant and reduced teen-pregnancy rates. 

Many people have launched successful careers after starting out in reality TV. Cardi B, for example, entered into the public view in 2015 as a cast member of Love & Hip-Hop: New York , where she was portrayed as an aspiring musician. Since then, she has pulled herself up the celebrity pipeline and become a Grammy-winning rapper. 

Some reality stars have even entered politics, the most famous being Donald Trump. Would he have been elected president if he hadn’t appeared on The Apprentice and been shown in a position of power, wearing a suit, and barking orders from behind a desk, and been depicted as always being right? We can’t know for sure, but it’s reasonable to suggest that reality TV helped pave his road to the White House. The media coverage surrounding Trump’s presidency arguably became its own reality show — in 2018, major news outlets even covered a visit to the Oval Office from Kim Kardashian. Trump is an important data point for helping us understand how reality TV both reflects and molds culture. If we learned anything from his presidency, it’s this: one thing that’s “really real” about unscripted programming is its impact.   

More From Books

Could All Our Tax Breaks Be Breaking the Country?

How a zealous antitax campaign that went unnoticed by many has altered America’s social, cultural, and political fabric

8 Books that Will Transport You to Another Time and Place

These works of historical fiction provide fascinating windows into life long ago, with plenty of wisdom for our current age

6 New Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List

All by Columbia alumni authors

Stay Connected.

Sign up for our newsletter.

General Data Protection Regulation

Columbia University Privacy Notice

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

Just “Harmless Entertainment”? Effects of Surveillance Reality TV on Physical Aggression

2014, Psychology of Popular Media Culture

RELATED PAPERS

Journal of Social Issues

Neil Malamuth

Jia Domingo

Lola Akinyele

Laramie Taylor

Journal of aggression, …

Christopher Ferguson

Craig A Anderson

Bradford W Hesse

Personality and …

Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications

Kathryn Greene

Jennifer Lewallen , Brandon Miller

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

Jessica L Politte-Patterson

Communication Research

Karin Fikkers

Jahan-e-Tahqeeq

Sajid M Awan

Journal of Research in Personality

Edward Donnerstein

China Media Research

Daleen Al-Ibrahim

Journal of Media Psychology

Communication Research Reports

Matthew Martin

Journal of Adolescent Health Care

Harry Hoberman

Joel Federman

Helmut Lukesch

Aggressive Behavior

Nicola Grahamkevan

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

Brad Bushman

Media and Communication

Patrick Jamieson

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

Research shows reality TV is not ‘harmless entertainment’

• Honor Cockroft
• Follow @SW_Londoner

Whilst reality TV is one of the largest sectors in the television industry, its behavioural effects are largely unknown.

However, reality programmes that show toxic behaviour such as Jersey Shore and The Real Housewives franchise can increase aggression, manipulation and narcissism in viewers. Researchers from Central Michigan University found that people were more aggressive following exposure to an episode of reality TV that contained verbal and relational aggression.  After watching the programme, study participants received an “ego-threat” in the form of a competitive time-task, and their subsequent level of aggression was measured by the intensity and duration of a noise they administered to an ostensible opponent.  Researcher, Bryan Gibson PhD, said: “Unpleasant interpersonal behaviours which we were able to show led to viewers increasing the amount of aggression they were willing to direct towards somebody else.” The study also found that participants who watched episodes depicting relational aggression were more aggressive than those exposed to family-friendly reality shows such as Little People Big World or violent crime dramas such as US show Dexter . 

Gibson, who teaches psychology at Central Michigan University, said that a possible explanation for this finding is that surveillance shows are marketed as reality.

He said: “The behaviour documented is also seen as true behaviour, real unscripted things that the participants are engaging in.

“That could potentially have a greater effect on their own behaviour as opposed to watching what they know to be fiction.”

Meanwhile, a survey of 145 students from the University of Wisconsin concluded that viewers of reality TV believed “argumentative and conniving” behaviours portrayed on shows are “normal”. 

This phenomenon is known as the ‘Cultivation Theory’, a sociological framework that suggests people exposed to a form of media for long periods of time are more likely to perceive social realities as they are presented.  

According to data published by One Poll in 2016, 42% of 25-34-year-olds believe reality TV dramas are true, with 60% also believing on-screen-romances to be genuine.

But in 2012 The Bachelor creator Mike Fleiss told the Today show that: “70-80% of reality TV is scripted”, highlighting the methods of manipulation some show producers use to create more drama, and subsequently attract more viewers.  According to Gibson, age could also be a variable in behavioural changes caused by media.

He added: “The effects can be more powerful for children because they have less capacity to separate entertainment for reality, so it is in the realm of possibility that the effects could be stronger in younger people.”

As young people are both the target demographic and largest viewing sector of reality TV, the consumption of scripted reality that promotes negative mentalities, aggressive conflict and dysfunctional relationships has the potential to be extremely damaging.  Nonetheless, the behavioural effects of reality TV largely remain undiscussed, with conversation veering towards the mental health of participants and self-esteem problems shows can inflict on viewers.  For example, the Mental Health Foundation’s study found that shows such as ITV’s Love Island fuel body anxiety in young people, with almost one in four confirming reality TV makes them worry about body image. 

In a survey conducted by SWL of a group of 16-24-year-olds with varying levels of reality TV consumption, 50% confirmed reality shows affected their body image, whilst more than 55% said they were unaware of potential psychological effects. The survey also revealed that whilst 40% said they do not notice any behavioural changes in themselves after watching reality TV, 60% said they do notice others being ‘more aggressive’, ‘more argumentative’, ‘more irritable’, ‘more self-centred’ and ‘more anxious’.

Another study by Gibson’s team of researchers at Central Michigan University found that people who spend more time watching shows, are more emotionally invested in them or even identify with characters more closely, tend to be more narcissistic. 

However, Gibson pointed out: “It could be simply that more narcissistic people are drawn to those shows, or that greater exposure over a length of time leads to increased narcissism.

“It is also possible that longer term exposure might intensify the effects.”

This open question draws attention to the reasons why people are attracted to reality TV shows. 

The ‘Social Comparison Theory’ suggests that watching reality TV makes people feel better about themselves and their own lives. 

With reality TV existing as one of the most popular and profitable sectors of the television industry, with nearly 4 in 10 people watching some form of it, it’s here to stay. 

Gibson hopes that his research will draw attention to the ways in which toxic behaviour seen in shows might affect viewers. 

Related Articles

Young people consistently have poor mental health and think politicians don’t care

Poetry final slams down on mental health barriers

Experts advice on how to spot and handle a social media addiction

High levels of young people not in education, employment or training

Swl podcasts.

The SWL Formula 1 podcast: Bahrain and Saudi Arabia 2023

22 March 2023

The SWL men’s Six Nations review podcast

21 March 2023

The SWL football podcast – Euro 2024 qualifiers

• Entertainment
• Food & Drink
• Editor’s Picks

SW Londoner

• Editorial Complaints
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Hammersmith & Fulham
• Kensington & Chelsea
• Westminster

Sister Sites

• North East Londoner
• South East Londoner
• North West Londoner

Join our weekly newsletter

© 1997-2024 South West Londoner. Built by Tigerfish

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/

Fill in the SWL

90-Second Survey

To be in with a chance to win a

Magnum of Champagne

Start Survey

Is reality TV harmless entertainment?

• Collins Dictionary defines reality TV as “a type of television programming that aims to show how ordinary people behave in everyday life, or in situations, often created by the program makers, which are intended to represent everyday life.”
• Premiering in 1992, MTV’s The Real World is said to be the genre-defining first example of reality TV in the modern television era. The show was about “a group of young adults selected to live together in a house where cameras document their behavior and interpersonal relationships.”
• Statista reports that, as of September 2023, 38% of Americans aged 30-49 watch reality TV.    
• According to Ranker, the top three reality TV shows of 2023 were Next Level Chef , 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way , and The Masked Singer .

Stephanie (No)

Although reality TV is generally presented as harmless entertainment, how it affects people can have serious repercussions. Just like watching a funny movie can boost one's spirits , watching reality TV packed with verbal abuse, drama, fights, and unrealistic beauty standards can also alter one’s mood and behavior. 

Reality TV shows often showcase harmful, toxic, and brutish behavior. Studies show that viewing reality TV, even in small quantities, can cause people to replicate similar patterns of conduct. Bullying and abuse are common plot points in these types of shows, and unfortunately, normalizing treating people with hurtful one-liners can become emulated too quickly. 

Further, the types of people cast for these shows can also promote harmful body image ideals for both young men and women. In such dating shows as Too Hot To Handle , it's clear to see that the cast is usually young, stereotypically beautiful and thin, as well as muscle-bound and tall. Seeing so many stellar bodies be normalized as if they were an accurate representation of society can directly cause adolescents' mental health to suffer--because rarely can someone live up to such unrealistic beauty standards. 

Beauty standards aside, there are ultra-macho, muscle-bound men usually cast for shows such as Love Island , who often display acts of physical harm and aggression. Showing these scenes to young men directly correlates with how aggressive they feel afterward. 

Therefore, the many harmful effects of reality TV shouldn't be ignored. Categorizing abnormal, overly dramatic, abusive relationships and unrealistic bodies as entertaining, harmless fun has a concrete impact on the behaviors and self-image of all television viewers.

Reality TV has gotten such a bad rap that many of its top fans would go so far as to lie about watching it . However, these shows are more harmless than their critics let on. 

For starters, reality television is still governed by the strict Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an organization that fined Fox and its affiliates for reality-based Married by America , as it deemed pixelating private parts a violation of indecency laws. 

Another reason these shows are harmless is because a majority of their viewers believe they’re mostly scripted– 61%, according to Statista . Moreover, 72% of American adults believe the shows are fake and meaningless despite being entertaining and inspiring. 

Also, regardless of the studies condemning reality TV, there’s sufficient evidence indicating the research is inconclusive. Take, for instance, a study that assessed 1,141 preteen and teenage girls–an age group considered more impressionable than adults. Researchers concluded that these shows produced both positive and negative influence, “defying easy categorization.”

Speaking of positive influence, reality TV has a lot to offer its viewers, including the potential to do good by highlighting social issues, such as when the show Survivor handled race and transgender rights.  

Other benefits of reality shows include allowing people to live vicariously through stars to explore various ‘what-if’ scenarios. Reality TV also helps viewers escape their own reality and get a break from their stressful lives. And according to psychologists, these shows allow people to practice empathy .

So, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying some reality TV, even if it feels a little trashy. The important thing is to balance the amusement with a dose of actual reality.

Essays on Reality Tv

We found 8 free papers on reality tv, essay examples, reality tv shows cause dangerous stereotype.

Reality television

Do reality television shows cause dangerous stereotypes? It is mostly agreed that reality tv promotes dangerous stereotypes. The producers goals are not things like education, but entertainment purposes. The new generation of reality television celebrity stars don’t thrive on talent, but use sensationalism to always be in the news, and some mothers are concerned that…

How does the global reality TV franchise work in the VietNam TV Industry?

How does the planetary world Television franchise work in the VietNam Television Industry? Switch over on prime-time Television in Viet Nam and within proceedingss you will be glued to locally produced versions of top world shows like ‘The Amazing Race’ , ‘X-Factor’ , ‘Big Brother’ and ‘The Voice’ . World shows now account for more…

Reality Television: A Silent Epidemic Contorting the Human Values

Since 1927 when the black and white television was born, almost 99% of households in America own a television set today with 66% of these homes owning three or more TV sets (TV-Free America, AC Nielsen, Co. n.p.). Since then, various types of shows that aim to inform, educate, document, entice, empathize and entertain viewers…

Reality tv: keeping up with the kardashians Analysis

The reality television show Keeping Up with the Kardashians has been airing on E! for the past seven years. Filming eight seasons, it focuses on the personal and professional lives of the Kardashian and Jenner families. The main cast includes Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, Robert, Kris, Bruce, Kendall, Kylie, as well as their significant others and…

Reality TV: Harmless Entertainment or Commercial Poisoning? Research Paper

Entertainment

Reality TV: Harmless Entertainment or Commercial Poisoning? THESIS: Reality television is certainly entertaining, informative, and in some instances even educational, but this form of media considered by many to be just “harmless entertainment” is poisoning the minds of our youth. I. Pros of watching reality shows A. Reality shows expose children to a new world…

A Critical Review of Annette Hill’s Reality TV

Showing It As It Is: A Critical Review of Annette Hill’s Reality TV:  Audiences and Popular Factual Television I.         Introduction             The popularity of reality TV is evident in the sheer number of programmes abound worldwide, from model searches to singing contests, home makeovers to personality improvement, celebrity and animal lives to crime cases, and…

Conflict Between Reality and Illusion as a Major Theme of ‘the Glass Menagerie’

The Glass Menagerie

Introduction The Glass Menagerie is a dramatic play about human nature and the conflict between illusion and reality. An illusion is pretense and not reality. In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams has made use of both reality and illusion together using conflict between them. Illusion is a misinterpretation of the facts. It is an opinion…

Reality Tv Shows vs Real Life

Reality TV shows such as Sirasa Super Star, Shakthi Grandmaster, and Sirasa Lakshapathi have a significant effect on everyday life. They have both positive and negative impacts and are now an essential component of entertainment. While these shows present chances for innocent and talented people to compete, they can also be addictive and consume a…

Frequently Asked Questions about Reality Tv

Don't hesitate to contact us. We are ready to help you 24/7

Hi, my name is Amy 👋

In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready to help you write a unique paper. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best match.

Some people think that the fictional violence portrayed on television is harmless entertainment. Others disagree and think that it encourages violent behavior. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Writing9 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

• Check your IELTS essay »
• Find essays with the same topic
• View collections of IELTS Writing Samples
• Show IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics

Some scientists believe that in the future computers will be more intelligent than human beings. While some see this as a positive development others worry about the negative consequences. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

People’s lives are now surrounded by advertisements. this affects what people consider important and has a negative impact on people’s lives. to what extent do you agree or disagree, in the modern world there is a movement away from written exams to more practical assessment. what do you think about this trend., 2.nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. in what ways has technology affected the types of relationships that people make has this been a positive or negative development, there is a lot of pressure on young people today to succeed academically. as a result, some people believe that non-academic subjects, such as physical education and cookery, should be removed from the school syllabus so that children can concentrate on academic work. to what extent do you agree or disagree.