Body & Mind

Science says: you are actually smart if you are addicted to reality TV

By Wieke Veenboer | #!31Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:30:06 +0200+02:000631#31Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:30:06 +0200+02:00-4Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202331 25pm31pm-31Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:30:06 +0200+02:004Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam2023312023Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:30:06 +0200304307pmTuesday=9#!31Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:30:06 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam7#07-25-2023#!31Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:30:06 +0200+02:000631#/31Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:30:06 +0200+02:00-4Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202331#!31Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:30:06 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam7#

A study into my heart this, and you can bet that I will shove this in people's faces when they ridicule me again. That does happen sometimes, you know, that I get comments thrown at me about my viewing behavior. That I am probably completely up to date with B&B Vol Liefde (true), that I can't wait for the new season of Temptation Island (also true) and that the Dutch Love Island is deadly boring, but that I will watch it again (of course that's true too). But do you know what that simply comes down to? Yours truly not only has taste when it comes to TV, but also has the brains.

Because according to research, especially intelligent people watch the most trashy TV. This has been proven and there are also several reasons behind it, says Psychology Today. For example, we like to watch The Real Housewives because the lives of the ultra-rich and famous are such a far-from-our-bed-show that it serves perfectly as a distraction and escape from our own lives.

Another reason is that the cast of a reality series often makes decisions that we cannot relate to at all. Often they are also very drunk and these are not the best decisions; they take risks that we would not (dare to?) take. We, as sober intelligent people, then decide for ourselves that we would never do this, and think about what the possible consequences would be. By seeing so many different people on TV, you learn a lot about how people are made, including people you might not interact with in daily life.

So it is also a sign of eagerness to learn and curiosity if you immerse yourself in reality TV. And indeed: that is a sign of intelligence. So I can now watch the latest episode of B&B Vol Liefde and The Kardashians without any shame. Delightful.