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35 The Effects of Reality Television on the Audience

  • Rachelle Pavelko

    Rachelle Pavelko, Ph.D., is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communication at Penn State University. She teaches courses in the Advertising/Public Relations Department and her research largely focuses on health communication, pop culture, and media effects. Dr. Pavelko has published in Journal of Health Communication, Computers in Human Behavior, Journal of Radio & Audio Media, and Health Communication, among others. Prior to joining the faculty at Penn State in 2024, Dr. Pavelko was an Associate Professor at Bradley University within the Slane College of Communication and Fine Arts.

    and Rachelle Pavelko

    Rachelle Pavelko, Ph.D., is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communication at Penn State University. She teaches courses in the Advertising/Public Relations Department and her research largely focuses on health communication, pop culture, and media effects. Dr. Pavelko has published in Journal of Health Communication, Computers in Human Behavior, Journal of Radio & Audio Media, and Health Communication, among others. Prior to joining the faculty at Penn State in 2024, Dr. Pavelko was an Associate Professor at Bradley University within the Slane College of Communication and Fine Arts.

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De Gruyter Handbook of Media Psychology
This chapter is in the book De Gruyter Handbook of Media Psychology

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of reality television research and resulting media effects to highlight myriad ways this type of programming informs our daily lives. Various subgenres of reality television and their fanbases (e. g., Bachelornation, The Biggest Loser, Survivor) are utilized to showcase the uses and gratifications paradigm, trends in on-screen representation of reality television casts, and the role of audience involvement. To close, this chapter positions Peacock’s reality television powerhouse, The Traitors, as a media effects case study, given the show’s convergence of subgenres and its cross-franchise cast, as a springboard for discussion and future research areas.

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of reality television research and resulting media effects to highlight myriad ways this type of programming informs our daily lives. Various subgenres of reality television and their fanbases (e. g., Bachelornation, The Biggest Loser, Survivor) are utilized to showcase the uses and gratifications paradigm, trends in on-screen representation of reality television casts, and the role of audience involvement. To close, this chapter positions Peacock’s reality television powerhouse, The Traitors, as a media effects case study, given the show’s convergence of subgenres and its cross-franchise cast, as a springboard for discussion and future research areas.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Author’s Note 5
  3. Contents VII
  4. Section 1: What is Media Psychology?
  5. Section 1: What is Media Psychology? 3
  6. 1 Media Psychology: Paradigms and Assumptions 5
  7. 2 Dynamic Systems Approaches to Media Psychology Research 13
  8. 3 De-Westernizing Media Psychology 21
  9. Section 2: Audiences
  10. Section 2: Audiences 37
  11. 4 Social Identity, Self-Presentation and Self-Symbolizing 39
  12. 5 Selection and Choice 57
  13. 6 Youth as Agents of Change: Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Social Network Campaigns 75
  14. 7 Media Literacy 89
  15. 8 Impulsivity and Media 103
  16. Section 3: Messages
  17. Section 3: Messages 121
  18. 9 Mediated Message Framing: Processes and Effects 123
  19. 10 Media Priming 141
  20. 11 Emotion 153
  21. 12 Complex Interactions of Motivation in Media Psychology 169
  22. 13 Media and Embodiment 183
  23. 14 Structural Features of Media 197
  24. 15 Narrative 209
  25. Section 4: Content
  26. Section 4: Content 225
  27. 16 Sexual Media Content and Effects 227
  28. 17 Mediated Identity Representation and Social Cognitive Processes 239
  29. 18 What Makes People Believe or Disbelieve Misinformation? A Review of Theoretical Frameworks and Factors Affecting Information Credibility Judgment 251
  30. 19 The Hate Between You and Me: Media Psychology and Affective Polarization 265
  31. 20 To Cancel or Call Out? The Rise and Prevalence of #cancelculture 277
  32. 21 Online Discrimination 291
  33. Section 5: Media
  34. Section 5: Media 309
  35. 22 Catalysts of Consumer Behavior: Tracing the Evolution of Sources of Influence 311
  36. 23 Algorithms and Affordances: Psychology of Human–AI Interaction 323
  37. 24 Great Reflexes, Slow Mastery: Game Studies in Social Sciences 335
  38. 25 Television Streaming Selection and Behaviors 347
  39. 26 Being Present in Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality: Explicating the Psychology of Immersive Technology (XR) 359
  40. 27 Privacy 373
  41. Section 6: Contexts
  42. Section 6: Contexts 391
  43. 28 Trust in Media 393
  44. 29 Eudaimonic Entertainment and Wellbeing: The Role of Threatened Needs and Fundamental Fears 407
  45. 30 Digital Media and Mental Health 421
  46. 31 Morality and Media 433
  47. 32 Psychology of Digital News Consumption and Public Opinion 445
  48. 33 Beyond the Billboard: Exploring the Dynamic Shifts in Advertising 457
  49. 34 “Why are you like this?” Exploring the Antecedents and Outcomes of Consuming Sports Media 471
  50. 35 The Effects of Reality Television on the Audience 485
  51. 36 The Psychology of Digital Activism and Political Participation 503
  52. Section 7: Contemporary Issues and Innovations
  53. Section 7: Contemporary Issues and Innovations 517
  54. 37 Media Psychology Methods: Current and Innovations 519
  55. 38 Current Practices and Innovations in Sampling 533
  56. 39 Creating a Foundation for Future Theory Innovation in Media Psychology 545
  57. 40 The Human-Media Environment: Reflections on Conceptualizing Media Psychology as a Dynamic System 555
  58. Index
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111292144-042

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Author’s Note 5
  3. Contents VII
  4. Section 1: What is Media Psychology?
  5. Section 1: What is Media Psychology? 3
  6. 1 Media Psychology: Paradigms and Assumptions 5
  7. 2 Dynamic Systems Approaches to Media Psychology Research 13
  8. 3 De-Westernizing Media Psychology 21
  9. Section 2: Audiences
  10. Section 2: Audiences 37
  11. 4 Social Identity, Self-Presentation and Self-Symbolizing 39
  12. 5 Selection and Choice 57
  13. 6 Youth as Agents of Change: Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Social Network Campaigns 75
  14. 7 Media Literacy 89
  15. 8 Impulsivity and Media 103
  16. Section 3: Messages
  17. Section 3: Messages 121
  18. 9 Mediated Message Framing: Processes and Effects 123
  19. 10 Media Priming 141
  20. 11 Emotion 153
  21. 12 Complex Interactions of Motivation in Media Psychology 169
  22. 13 Media and Embodiment 183
  23. 14 Structural Features of Media 197
  24. 15 Narrative 209
  25. Section 4: Content
  26. Section 4: Content 225
  27. 16 Sexual Media Content and Effects 227
  28. 17 Mediated Identity Representation and Social Cognitive Processes 239
  29. 18 What Makes People Believe or Disbelieve Misinformation? A Review of Theoretical Frameworks and Factors Affecting Information Credibility Judgment 251
  30. 19 The Hate Between You and Me: Media Psychology and Affective Polarization 265
  31. 20 To Cancel or Call Out? The Rise and Prevalence of #cancelculture 277
  32. 21 Online Discrimination 291
  33. Section 5: Media
  34. Section 5: Media 309
  35. 22 Catalysts of Consumer Behavior: Tracing the Evolution of Sources of Influence 311
  36. 23 Algorithms and Affordances: Psychology of Human–AI Interaction 323
  37. 24 Great Reflexes, Slow Mastery: Game Studies in Social Sciences 335
  38. 25 Television Streaming Selection and Behaviors 347
  39. 26 Being Present in Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality: Explicating the Psychology of Immersive Technology (XR) 359
  40. 27 Privacy 373
  41. Section 6: Contexts
  42. Section 6: Contexts 391
  43. 28 Trust in Media 393
  44. 29 Eudaimonic Entertainment and Wellbeing: The Role of Threatened Needs and Fundamental Fears 407
  45. 30 Digital Media and Mental Health 421
  46. 31 Morality and Media 433
  47. 32 Psychology of Digital News Consumption and Public Opinion 445
  48. 33 Beyond the Billboard: Exploring the Dynamic Shifts in Advertising 457
  49. 34 “Why are you like this?” Exploring the Antecedents and Outcomes of Consuming Sports Media 471
  50. 35 The Effects of Reality Television on the Audience 485
  51. 36 The Psychology of Digital Activism and Political Participation 503
  52. Section 7: Contemporary Issues and Innovations
  53. Section 7: Contemporary Issues and Innovations 517
  54. 37 Media Psychology Methods: Current and Innovations 519
  55. 38 Current Practices and Innovations in Sampling 533
  56. 39 Creating a Foundation for Future Theory Innovation in Media Psychology 545
  57. 40 The Human-Media Environment: Reflections on Conceptualizing Media Psychology as a Dynamic System 555
  58. Index
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