SCHOLARLY SOURCES
Barton, Kristin M. "Why We Watch Them Sing And Dance: The Uses And Gratifications Of Talent-Based Reality Television." Communication Quarterly 61.2 (2013): 217-235. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
In this article for Communication Quarterly, Kristin Barton studies U&G (Uses and Gratification) of reality television shows such as "Dancing with the Stars" and "America's Got Talent." She examines the result of a survey sent out asking subjects why they watch reality television. According to results, audiences predominantly watched these shows in order to satisfy schadenfreude or the "pleasure felt at someone's misfortune" and to entertain themselves when bored (Barton). Answers such as "I like to see someone make a fool of them self" and "It gave me something to watch when I'm bored" were most consistently chosen (Barton). In her conclusion, Barton notes that that her studies can aid producers of new shows in understanding what audiences will enjoy.
Commons, Michael Lamport, et al. "Stars That Crash." Behavioral Development Bulletin 19.2 (2014): 100-110. Academic Search Complete. Web. 7 June 2016.
In this article for Behavioral Development Bulletin, Commons et al. assesses the risk factors that affect the livelihood of celebrities. First Commons et al. presents a model illustrating the effects of early childhood environment and social forces on a celebrity's character (i.e. narcissism). Factors considered include childhood difficulties, childhood fame, and level of parent fame. Results showed that "atypical early environments" such as trauma and early careers are significant risk factors (Commons et al.).
Feuer, Jane. “‘Quality' Reality and the Bravo Media Reality Series." Camera Obscura: Feminism, Culture, and Media Studies 30.1 (2015): 185-95. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
In this article for Camera Obscura: Feminism, Culture, and Media Studies, Jane Feuer draws similarities between television melodrama and reality television shows. She observes that both mediums have hallmark characteristics such as “feuds” and “catfights" (Feuer). She also states that although reality television is unscripted, it is often self-scripted by cast members who unintentionally follow the form of stereotypical melodrama . Finally, she compares the well set-up, filmed,and edited nature of reality television to regular television drama. She concludes that there are many stylistic similarities between the two genres.
Ghosh, Sanchita, and Pritha Mukhopadhyay. "Self-image, Temperament and Character Profile of Junior Reality Television Show Performer." Indian Journal of Health & Wellbeing 6.1 (2015): 1-7. IAHRW. IAHRW. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
In this article for the Indian Journal of Health & Wellbeing, Ghosh and Mukhopadhyay researched and found that children who participated in competition type reality television had lower self esteem than non-participants. The results also showed that these participants had higher reliance on the opinions of others when evaluating themselves. Finally, the study found that these children had higher self transcendence than non-participants; this ultimately suggests that they are more adaptable to new challenges.
Mitchell, Gary, and Harold Cronson. "The Celebrity Family: A Clinical Perspective." American Journal of Family Therapy 15.3 (1987): 235-241. PsycINFO. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
In this article for the American Journal of Family Therapy, Mitchell and Cronson present a clinical perspective of parent-child interactions within a celebrity family and its likely consequences. One issue explored is the possibility of parents creating unreasonably high expectations for their children. A parent may be unaware he/she is setting standards that a child cannot meet. Another issue is the effect of celebrity life on a child's mental development. Lastly, the article explores the effects of isolation and its negative effect on all members of the family.
Royal, Dayna B. "Jon & Kate Plus The State: Why Congress Should Protect Children In Reality Programming." Akron Law Review 43.2 (2010): 435-500. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
In this article for the Akron Law Review, Dayna Royal assesses the negative impact of reality television on children. According to Royal, children do not have the maturity and foresight to understand the impact of their current decisions on their futures. She further emphasizes that parents of these children are similarly uneducated about their decisions and may fail to put their child's interest first. She proposes regulation that is flexible and changes based on the participants age. According to Royal, her proposed solution is viable as it neither violates the first amendment nor parent due process.