Just “harmless entertainment”? Effects of surveillance reality TV on physical aggression.

Abstract

Reality TV programs are extremely popular, though little research has examined how they affect viewers. In particular, many reality TV programs contain acts of aggression, mainly verbal or relational forms of aggression. The current study evaluates how different content within reality TV affected viewer aggression. Participants watched a surveillance reality program containing verbal and relational aggression, a surveillance reality program containing supportive family interactions, or a violent crime drama. To see whether surveillance reality programs increase aggression by increasing narcissistic responding, half the participants received an ego threat. Aggression was measured using the intensity and duration of noise administered to an ostensible opponent on a competitive reaction time task. Surveillance reality viewers exposed to relational aggression were more aggressive than those watching either a supportive family surveillance reality program or a violent crime drama. Viewers of the violent crime drama were also more aggressive than those watching the family themed surveillance reality program. Ego threat did not moderate the increase in aggression seen in negative surveillance reality program viewers, suggesting that these programs did not increase narcissistic responding. This is one of the first studies to use an experimental method to document causal effects of reality TV viewing on viewers of these programs. Surveillance reality programs that include relational aggression are not simply “harmless entertainment”—they increase physical aggression.