Emotional and Cognitive Predictors of the Enjoyment of Reality-Based and Fictional Television Programming: An Elaboration of the Uses and Gratifications Perspective

I Am What I Watch: Voyeurism, Sensation Seeking, and Television Viewing Patterns

“…With its filming of real people as they live out events in their lives (see Nabi et al, 2003), reality TV significantly differs from fictional TV programs on some program content (e.g., Nabi et al, 2006). Prior research focused on audience gratification or motivation factors as a way of distinguishing reality TV from fictional TV programs and understanding the broad appeal of reality TV (e.g., Nabi et al, 2006;Reiss & Wiltz, 2004). Reiss and Wiltz (2004) examined the association between 16 human desires and values with reality TV viewing, and concluded that the motivation to feel self-important was most strongly associated with reality TV consumption.…”

“…As Nabi summarized, ''In essence, reality programs are marked by ordinary people engaging in unscripted action and interaction '' (2007, p. 373). To categorize reality programs into sub-genres, scholars provided classification based on range of reality programs, viewing frequency of reality-based programs, or concept mapping (e.g., Nabi, 2007;Nabi et al, 2006;Ouellete & Murray, 2004). For instance, Ouellete and Murray (2004) assessed the range of reality programming and identified six subgenres: gamedocs (e.g., Survivor), dating programs (e.g., Joe Millionaire), makeover and lifestyle (e.g., A Wedding Story), docusoaps (e.g., The Real World), court programs (e.g., Judge Judy), and reality sitcoms (e.g., The Osbournes).…”

“…More specifically, the U&G approach suggests that individuals are aware of their needs, evaluate various channels and content available to them, assess functional alternatives, and finally, select the media, interpersonal channel, or other activities that they believe will provide the gratification they seek, which may be in the form of selection, attention, and use (Katz et al, 1974). The U&G perspective generated varied research including studies on enjoyment (e.g., Nabi et al, 2006), typical gratifications sought (e.g., Nabi et al, 2006;Papacharissi & Mendelson, 2007), and influence of social factors and personality traits on media consumption (e.g., Krcmar & Greene, 1999;Nabi et al, 2003). This article elaborates on the assumption that viewers' choice of media is influenced by a host of personality traits.…”

“…Voyeurism was operationalized from three different perspectives: first as an individual difference, or personality variable (e.g., Blazer, 2006); second, as a program content or message variable (e.g., Calvert, 2000;Kavka, 2004); and third, as a viewer gratification variable (e.g., Nabi et al, 2006). This study focuses on the first two conceptualizations of voyeurism (i.e., voyeurism as a message variable, and voyeurism as a personality variable) to explore possible relations between the two.…”

“…Yet, if viewers' attitudes play a significant role in the selection of media content (Katz, Blumler, & Gurevitch, 1974), what kind of attitudes or personality factors contribute to exposure to and enjoyment of reality TV programs? As Nabi, Stitt, Halford, and Finnerty (2006) reported, voyeurism was a key distinguishing gratification factor between reality TV and fictional programming. Papacharissi and Mendelson (2007) found that viewers with low mobility and low levels of interpersonal interaction were more likely to watch reality TV to fulfill voyeuristic and companionship needs.…”