LOSING SIGHT OF OURSELVES: A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF REALITY TELEVISION IN THE UNITED STATES A Dissertation by MEGAN ELIZABETH COLLINS Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, Stjepan Gabriel Meštrović Committee Members, Sarah Gatson William McIntosh Patrick Burkart Head of Department, Jane Sell August 2014 Major Subject: Sociology Copyright 2014 Megan Elizabeth Collins ABSTRACT The focus of this research is the emergence and encouragement of the false self in our society and how this is portrayed through four reality television shows: Toddlers and Tiaras, Hoarders, Sister Wives and Catfish: The TV Show. Content analysis in combination with various theoretical perspectives will be utilized in order to examine the effects of narcissism, consumerism and the emergence of the false self. The limitless character of a consumer society coupled with narcissism and an increased focus on the self contributes to the development of the false self within the individual. People may not even be aware of the push to be narcissistic, focused on our own biographies and self-promotion, yet people are aware of their suffering and unhappiness. Many individuals are left questioning why it is that they are never completely satisfied even as they accumulate notoriety, success, material wealth and possessions. An ideology of greatness and being the best is found in so many avenues of our daily lives, and at times it can be overwhelming, and if we do not possess these skills and qualities we are encouraged to just fake it. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... iv CHAPTER I OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE ....................................................... 1 Overview of Literature: Encouraging the False Self ....................................... 2 Methods: Understanding the Relationship of Reality Television and the Development of the False Self ................................................................... 21 CHAPTER II UNDERSTANDING THE FALSE SELF ....................................... 27 Adaptation ....................................................................................................... 28 Artifice ............................................................................................................ 34 Avoidance ........................................................................................................ 38 CHAPTER III PROJECTING FALSENESS: TODDLERS AND TIARAS ............... 42 CHAPTER IV CONSEQUENCE OF BELIEVING THE LIE: HOARDERS .......... 64 CHAPTER V THE EASE OF FALSENESS: SISTER WIVES ................................. 81 CHAPTER VI AVOIDING REALITY: CATFISH THE TV SHOW ........................ 97 CHAPTER VII CONCLUSIONS: REFLECTIONS ON THE FALSE SELF, CONSUMERISM AND REALITY TELEVISION ................................................. 111 REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 126 APPENDIX 1 TODDLERS AND TIARAS SUMMARY AND QUOTATIONS ..... 130 APPENDIX 2 HOARDERS SUMMARY AND QUOTATIONS ........................... 139 APPENDIX 3 SISTER WIVES SUMMARY AND QUOTATIONS ....................... 149 APPENDIX 4 CATFISH THE TV SHOW SUMMARY AND QUOTATIONS ...... 162 iii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE Page 1 ProHealth Toothpaste ....................................................................................... 32 2 Rylan ................................................................................................................ 43 3 Emily and Dad .................................................................................................. 44 4 “I Got a Better Smile” ...................................................................................... 44 5 Alicia Practicing ............................................................................................... 46 6 Emily Practices with “Judges” ......................................................................... 46 7 Rylan Throwing a Fit ....................................................................................... 47 8 Rylan Screams “No!!” ...................................................................................... 47 9 Emily Goes to the Salon ................................................................................... 51 10 Rylan is Measured ............................................................................................ 51 11 Rylan with Trophy ........................................................................................... 59 12 Alicia on Stage ................................................................................................. 61 13 Alicia Disappointed .......................................................................................... 61 14 Ron, Deborah’s Husband ................................................................................. 65 15 Deborah ............................................................................................................ 65 16 Ron and Deborah Outside ................................................................................ 76 17 Front of Deborah’s Home ................................................................................ 76 18 Sam Upset in His Room ................................................................................... 77 19 Jim Breaks Down ............................................................................................. 79 20 Kody and His Three Wives .............................................................................. 82 iv FIGURE Page 21 Layout of the House ......................................................................................... 83 22 Meri .................................................................................................................. 85 23 Janelle ............................................................................................................... 88 24 Christine ........................................................................................................... 91 25 Max, Jen and Nev ............................................................................................. 98 26 Nev Calls Skylar ............................................................................................... 99 27 Nev Speaking to Skylar about Meeting Jen ..................................................... 100 28 Skylar Comes Downstairs to Meet Jen ............................................................ 101 29 Max, Jen and Nev Confronting Bryan ............................................................. 104 30 Jen Talking to Bryan ........................................................................................ 105 31 Max and Nev Talk to Bryan about His Actions ............................................... 107 32 Joel Osteen ....................................................................................................... 111 v CHAPTER I OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE "He sees the world, even in its emptiness, as a mirror of himself" (Lasch 1978: 21) Many people in the U.S. tend to idolize individuals who achieve greatness: celebrities, movie stars, the wealthy, and the brilliant. Reality television not only provides the viewer with an insight into daily life and routines but may answer deeper, more existential questions about how we define our sense of self and how we as individuals relate to the rest of society. Today the individual is offered a plurality of choices including the realm of what we watch on television. Is reality television a reflection of our “selves” and is it reflecting a pattern of narcissistic tendencies present in our society today? The old Greek story of Narcissus follows a young man known for his beauty that sees his image in a pond and falls in love with it. Narcissus was fixated upon his reflection and was so enamored with his reflection that he starves and dies. Our culture today, contains youth posing in front of bathroom mirrors, fixated upon their reflections, sharing these images with those around them seeking attention and admiration. What may be emerging is a new cultural narcissism that can be witnessed with the growth of social media and the growth of reality television within American culture. Do we care more about what others think today than people did just a few decades ago? There are many avenues of our world that are drastically changing on a daily basis. The growth of social media and reality television are a major aspect of our daily 1 lives that are altering the way we look at ourselves and others. Whereas too much television consumption was once a concern for members of our society, a new cultural narcissism found within reality television is arguably a growing concern for our youth and our future. Few are discussing this matter and reality television is one way in which our society can better understand these changes that are encouraging narcissistic behavior and what it means for us as individuals. While narcissism is a central focus of this study the emergence and development of the false self will be a prevalent and recurring