The late novelist Kurt Vonnegut once described media in terms that may apply to reality shows. He explained how TV and movies have caused people to expect reality to be much more dramatic than it really is: "...because we grew up surrounded by big dramatic story arcs in books and movies, we think our lives are supposed to be filled with huge ups and downs. So people pretend there is drama where there is none." Nothing proves Vonnegut's theory like America's love for reality TV. Shows such as "The Real World" and "The Hills" are filled with over-dramatic fights and intrigue. But unlike books and movies before them, reality TV claims to be representative of real life. This helps people believe more than ever before that life should be full of dramatic ups and downs that don't really exist.
In a study conducted by Psychology Today, one of the dominant characteristics that differentiates a reality TV fan from fans of other shows is a desire for prestige. Psychology Today reports, "Fans of the shows are much more likely to agree with statements such as, "Prestige is important to me" and "I am impressed with designer clothes." Reality TV allows Americans to fantasize about gaining status through automatic fame. Ordinary people can watch the shows, see people like themselves and imagine that they too could become celebrities by being on television. In our increasingly celebrity-obsessed culture, it's not surprising that this would be an attraction. Reality TV's increasing popularity could be reflective of an increased desire for status in American society.
Escapism is a central theme in most reality TV programs. Contestants on shows such as "Top Chef" and "America's Next Top Model" leave their everyday lives to live in a beautiful house and gain the opportunity to achieve their dreams and make hundreds of thousands of dollars doing so. This is surely an appealing theme to a country still stuck under an economic recession.
Brad Waite, who presented reality TV research at the American Psychological Society's 16th Annual Convention, believes reality TV may be encroaching on society's expectations of privacy. He says of watchers of reality TV, "Expectations of privacy have been eroded ... Public disclosure, even of formerly private behavior and feelings, is the expectation."
Waite also expresses the fear that reality shows such as "Temptation Island" bring out viewers' attraction to mortification. "Temptation Island" revolved around trying to get monogamous couples to be unfaithful. Waite says of heavy watchers of these sorts of shows, "They expect it's OK to humiliate and to be humiliated by others, instead of thinking there's something wrong with this behavior."