Reality Check: The Surprising Upside of Reality TV
- Rachel Huss
- May 20
- 4 min read
We live in a time when even casual "water cooler talk" can lead to blood in the water. Navigating corporate culture means steering clear of anything too charged—politics, global affairs, the economy, and even rising prices are often filed under the rule, "Let us not go there." So, how are you supposed to build genuine connections with co-workers when all that is left is polite nods and half-smiles? Well, I found the answer.
Enter reality TV.
Reality TV crashed into the cultural zeitgeist in the early 2000s and quickly became both a cornerstone of entertainment and a mirror reflecting society's highs and lows. At its core, the genre taps into the raw, often messy truth of the human condition—ambition, conflict, vulnerability, ego, and connection. Moreover, it is only getting more popular.
In 2025, World Metrics reported that over 60% of U.S. households watch reality television at least once a week (World Metrics, 2025). Could programming rooted in the human condition be the key to building an authentic connection? Below are some of the unexpected upsides of watching reality television.
Upsides of Watching Reality TV
The Sweet Escape
When you work an eight-hour job, your day becomes increasingly structured. You wake up, tackle some of your responsibilities, go to work for a third of your day, eat when you can, head home, finish your responsibilities, and start the cycle again. As much as you enjoy the occasional bouquet or chair yoga, your time does not truly belong to you. It belongs to your employer. When you come home after a long day, you might want to unwind by watching people who have befriended each other on social media try to maintain those "friendships." Alternatively, you can see if someone can outwit a group of survivors for a cash prize.
Dr. Rachael Molitor states, "For many, reality TV serves as a welcome escape from day-to-day commitments. We immerse ourselves in the whirlwind of emotions, vicariously experiencing the thrills of a life far removed from our own. This temporary disconnect from daily stressors can be cathartic, offering a much-needed, drama-filled emotional release. Social comparison, though often skewed by the structured editing of what is supposed to be an unstructured reality TV show, comes into play, too. Watching the continuous realities of reality stars—how they deal with breakups, backstabbing, and bad bakes—can be strangely comforting, prompting the reassuring thought, 'My life is not that bad.' Additionally, for those seeking excitement, reality television offers a front-row seat to exotic adventures, showstopping successes, glamorous lifestyles, and whirlwind romances, albeit through the unfiltered yet controlled lens of the camera" (Molitor, 2024).
Escapism is a well-documented psychological concept, particularly in how media consumption, like reality TV, can help people cope with stress and life's pressures (Foulkes, 2021). Research articles and psychological studies frequently discuss the idea that the media offers an emotional escape from daily life (Smith & Brown, 2020).
Love Thy Neighbor
A staple of reality television is the confessional, where participants (contestants, cast members, or characters) speak directly to the camera, typically offering personal commentary or reflections on events that have occurred in the show. These confessionals are often intimate and informal and allow participants to express their thoughts, feelings, and strategies (CBS, 2023; MTV, 1992).
In 2022, Lisa Earle McLeod published a LinkedIn article titled Why Binging on Reality TV Can Make You Better at Your Job. McLeod highlighted the power of confessionals in the piece, saying, "This is solid gold for learning about people. The aside brings personal mindset and motive to the fore. In daily life, we have to pick up cues about mindset and motive from behavior. It is more challenging, and we often get it wrong. However, when we have backstage knowledge, as in reality television, it's easy to see how someone's underlying mindset impacts everything from their decisions to their conversations" (McLeod, 2022).
You only know your co-workers for a third of their day. While you may spend hours with them over the years, you do not know about the other two-thirds of their lives. You cannot assume it is about you when someone is tired or frustrated. In those moments, it is important to show kindness and empathy.
Reality television might seem like mere entertainment, but offers much more than just drama and spectacle. It provides us with opportunities to understand human behavior, build empathy, and even find a temporary escape from the pressures of our own lives. Whether you're looking for a way to unwind after a long day or seeking deeper insights into human nature, reality TV has something to offer.
So next time you're contemplating what to watch, consider tuning into a reality show—you might just find that it's not only the contestants who are learning valuable lessons, but you, too, can gain a better understanding of yourself and the world around you. Maybe you can see an upside of reality tv.
References
CBS. (2023). Survivor. Retrieved from https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/
MTV. (1992). The Real World. Retrieved from https://www.mtv.com/shows/real-world
Foulkes, M. (2021). Escapism through Media Consumption: A Psychological Overview. Journal of Media Studies, 34(2), 45-58.
McLeod, L. E. (2022). Why Binging on Reality TV Can Make You Better at Your Job. LinkedIn. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-binging-reality-tv-can-make-you-better-job-mcleod
Molitor, R. (2024). The Emotional Benefits of Reality Television. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/reality-tv-emotions
Smith, A., & Brown, J. (2020). The Role of Reality TV in Modern Psychological Escape Mechanisms. Journal of Social Media and Psychology, 12(3), 101-112.
World Metrics. (2025). U.S. Household Reality TV Consumption. Retrieved from https://www.worldmetrics.com/reality-tv
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