Speaking of sociopathy, let's mention pride. "At least I'm not as crazy as those people," or "this people are terrible, and so much better than them," no doubt plays a role.
The genre shares several less distressing attractants, though: connecting to a person, and rooting for them to win. It's a form of empathy,though some shows are much better at engaging this than others. It's also part social experiment, which is a draw I felt from a few shows.
Most of my dabbling has been disappointing, with the shows focusing more on the slap fights. But the first season of "The Mole" was more interesting that way, blending in mind games. It almost became social chess. I like to imagine myself the scenarios, seeing if I could see the mole, or how I would play the mole. That was part of the show's appeal, the audience didn't know who the mole was, so it was like you're playing along with the contestants.
Though, that kind of "reality series" seems to be the exception. I currently haven't the time or the patience to try to find another exception. Sturgeon's law, fellow forumite, Sturgeon's law.
Then you have shows like Fear Factor, an appeal which I understand, but doesn't attract me. Probably would have more when I was a kid eating worms. Still, I can't turn my nose up at someone monetizing the "gross out" appeal almost every young boy displays: that's just good sense.
As for the amount of them, reality shows are easier on the production budget. No special effects, no expensive writers or actors. It's kind of like how modern comedies don't have to do well in the box office to make money because they're just shot so cheaply.
I think one of the best examples of what I don't like about reality series comes from Iron Chef. No one is having fun on that show, it's all drama.
They blare dramatic music, the judges scowl a lot, and exaggerate their criticisms. if you're going to create such a negative atmosphere, you're going to have to get me quite invested in a person/character in order to want to walk through it. But I have almost no reason to care who wins. I feel it cookoff show could be so much fun, but the decision-makers have made a thorough work of removing any hint.
(non-sequitur of the day: Go Alton Brown! Now he brings the fun.)
What specific reality series get on your nerves, everybody? Or maybe you found one with a bit of genius?
"That didn't make me cry. I'm just shedding manly tears over something completely unrelated and super masculine. Like an explosion. An exploding robot. An exploding robot that's on fire. DON'T LOOK AT ME!"
-Farmer10