Posted on 12/13/2012 9:28:24 AM PST by CNSNews.com
People who watch non-competition reality shows are more extroverted, neurotic and have a lower self-esteem, according to a new study.
The survey, conducted by Today.com polled 19,000 people and found that "those who watched non-competition reality shows are more extroverted, neurotic and have lower self-esteem than watchers who are not fans of the genre."
Additionally, the survey found that 72% of women and 60% of men watch Reality television simply because they're bored. Also, 46% of women and 26% of men watch this genre because they like to see how people with money and fame live their lives.
Deadliest Catch and Real Housewives were the top reality shows among men, according to the study.
While it appears most individuals watch Reality TV out of boredom, a study released last year found that some girls might be negatively impacted by these programs.
According to a report from the Girl Scouts Research Institute, "Real to Me: Girls and Reality TV," shows like "Teen Mom" and "Jersey Shore" have mixed effects on young girls.
The study polled 1,100 "tween" and teenage girls and found that reality shows can be uplifting and motivational, but they can also negatively impact girls' relationships and self-esteem.
Girls who regularly watch reality TV accept and expect a higher level of drama, aggression and bullying in their own lives.
The report also found that these girls measure their worth primarily by physical appearance.
At least with Goldrush, one can learn something useful. Maybe we freepers should pan for gold, too.
It is an interesting concept.
My first “reality show” that wasn’t an actual show about reality (you know, like National Geographic, or Wild Kingdom) was Survivor. And that was really more like a game than what passes for “reality TV”. It was a game show, with rules, and competition.
I think there are a lot of different genres of “reality TV” these days. After Survivor, I started watching American Idol, which again was a competition show. And I watched Sarah Palin’s Alaska, which while more like a “reality” show, was really about Alaska.
I watch “Little People, Big World”, which is a true reality show, but it follows a family and how they live their lives, and I find that particular family fascinating, and it was fun to see how his business mind worked. I guess there was also the more formulaic reality show “dramas”, but that wasn’t what drew me to the show.
I watched Trump’s reality show, because it was interesting watching people compete in business-type events, but I tired of it after 2 seasons. I also quit Survivor after the reunion season.
And I spent a season watching the guys bid on storage lockers. I watched a season of crabbers, and a season of ice truckers. I don’t know why those were fascinating, but I’d like to think it was because I was LEARNING something about jobs I knew nothing about.
Dirty Jobs — that was a form of reality show, and again a way to learn about different jobs (as was the occasional George Plimpton show where he would learn a sport and play it for like 2 seconds, for those who are old enough to remember).
Other reality shows have no interest to me, and some seem disgusting and crass, but I can’t easily qualify what makes them that way, except my interest in the topic. Like all the Nanny shows, and Sister Wives, and the child abuse shows about beauty pageants, and the Bachelor “competitions”, and fear factor, and black hole or whatever that darkness show is (I watched one episode). And don’t forget shows about hunting Alligators, or wild boars, or shipping things, or housewives, or new jersey thugs. Or Pawn shops, or cake wars, and a host of other “reality” things.
My wife watches Sister Wives. She can’t explain it, except that it is like watching a slow-motion train wreck, and you can’t take your eyes off it.
I was just kidding. can’t stand reality shows, but “Fast N’ Load” is pretty good.
I’m waiting for Aaron’s beard to catch on fire while welding one of these days.
“...what is up with all the gold mining shows?”
Folks with no jobs can think they could actually do something like this and strike it rich and pay off the house.
Folks stuck in jobs they don’t like think they could actually do something like this and strike it rich and pay off the house.
Folks with jobs they like and plenty of money but stuck in an office now, but read “Call of the Wild” as a kid think they could do an outside job like this in beautiful country.
I enjoy the Alaskan Gold Rush (on land). I really enjoy the segments with the 17-year old “kid” Parker. That kid will go far.
I’d end up Killing Dakota Fred and burying him under a pile of tailings.
There’s actually a show called Honey Boo Boo? Every time I think I might get the Junior Flashes a TV, I find out what’s really on the thing, and I’m good for another six months.
Tis an idiotic populous that elected Pres. Kardashian in the first place.
And “Python Hunters”.
I personally only know about it, because I read newspapers. But, yeah, it exists.
Laughed so hard I darn near choked on my own spit!!!
I enjoy the water shows,, maybe a noodling show under the ice, shot in the arctic.. bare nekkid.. a beard catching fire could come in handy.. that and bears chasing ya should keep ya warm..
I just don’t like that guy. I don’t care for Todd either.
In fact, the only ones I really like are Parker and his granddad.
I can’t wait until the premiere episode of “Real Discipline of Pony-Riding Midgets of the Alleghenys.” /perversion
I agree, plus it’s fun to say “Schnabel”. But I’m kind of getting tired of the show. They spend most of the hour telling you what has already happened, or what is coming up. DVR is the way to go!
Beyond the competition and non-competition I’d suggest there’s a DRASTIC difference between reality shows about people trying to accomplish something useful (Deadliest Catch, Axe Men, Wicked Tuna, etc.) and people doing nothing useful or of interest where the emphasis is entirely on interpersonal conflict (Jersey Shore, Real Housewives, etc.)
I watch the former, not the latter. And I’d bet the psychological differences between the viewers of each are drastic.
I heard a rumor that there are actually some people in Alaska NOT in a reality show. Seems pretty dubious.
Hope show writers have poetic justice in mind with Fred the Prick getting what he deserves, the Fat Boy’s inept herd continuing to lose and the Kid kicking butt.
At least Gold Rush makes more sense than Africa Gold with two failure real estate idiots with zero gold experience getting millions from investors and getting shucked by the Africans.
Hope show writers have poetic justice in mind with Fred the Prick getting what he deserves, the Fat Boy’s inept herd continuing to lose and the Kid kicking butt.
At least Gold Rush makes more sense than Africa Gold with two failure real estate idiots with zero gold experience getting millions from investors and getting shucked by the Africans.
>>>>I heard a rumor that there are actually some people in Alaska NOT in a reality show. Seems pretty dubious.<<<<
Hee hee hee. I’m in the Alaska Bush, just downriver from the site of Yukon Men, and we are always amused by the Lower 48 obsession with our state. My wife and I were just discussing last night whether or not there should be a Discovery Alaska network. It is also very cool for us to see people we know, places we’ve been to, and so forth on television.
You just don’t get the same kind of response from people if you say, “Hey! We’re from Delaware.”
Actually, I have a slum-like appreciation for “World’s Dumbest” and “Most Shocking.” Must be my low self-esteem.
So THAT'S my problem. Watching "Cops"!
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