30 People From Reality TV Share How Fake It All Was In This Viral Thread

If you’re a fan of 50 Day Fiance, a mega-popular American reality television series on TLC like myself, you know very well how addictive it may be. The level of entertainment is so powerful, there’s a huge fanbase behind every character in the show, with the news being discussed on countless subreddits, forums and Facebook groups. What’s more, you can easily binge the entire season and make yourself bloodshot-eyed the next morning.

The paradox of watching reality TV shows is that no matter how fake and staged they may be (and most viewers are very aware of the fact), how absurdly cringy they seem, we still can’t look away from them. So what is it about that reality drama that’s so appealing that people from different walks of life, of different age and background, and even nationality, find it that addictive?

The behavioral scientist Dr. Juliette Tobias-Webb, explained to The Latch that people can become obsessed with this kind of drama not only because it is “emotional and exciting” but it can also give people a sense of meaning.

“The physiological arousal from drama is exciting; increasing our heart rate, visceral arousal and leading to the release of endorphins in the brain which are pain-suppressing and pleasure-inducing, not much different than the effect of some drug addictions,” Dr. Tobias-Webb commented. “Like any addiction, you build up a tolerance that continuously requires more to get the same neurochemical effect. In the case of drama, then means you need more and more crises to get the same thrill.”

The thrill of the drama may explain part of the reality TV addiction, but the same goes with other TV entertainment, action and adventure movies. Another theory that explains our ongoing fascination with reality TV is that it makes us feel better about ourselves. Dr. Tobias-Webb suggests that people watch television shows to simultaneously make comparisons with the people on the shows and to feel better about themselves and their personal circumstances.

Another interesting theory is that 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. And even if the contestants are shown in not the best light, the fact that so many people are still refusing to turn it off means they matter to us in one way or another.