Why do people join reality shows?

MANILA, Philippines - There are reality shows and there are reality shows. They attract applicants the way hordes of politicians outdo each other courting the people’s votes.

What really pushes these reality show contestants to stand in long lines for the chance to appear on TV? Sure, there’s fame and fortune at the end of the search.

But psychologist Randy Dellosa says the reasons go much, much deeper. And they’re not something to sneer at.

“Some of them want to prove they’re good as a means of getting back at those who have belittled them,” he explains.

It’s their way of telling the world, “My detractors are wrong, dead wrong. See, I’m on nationwide TV! ”

Extroverts, Dellosa goes on, are chosen over introverts. Extroverts are impulsive, spontaneous. They make for interesting TV. Introverts, the psychologist observes, are serious types who get easily overshadowed by more outgoing people.

Indeed, local TV is teeming with extroverts who bask in the limelight. They enjoy the attention and the adulation being the public eye brings.

That’s why Dellosa looks out for extroverts whenever he screens reality show contestants. When it comes to game shows bets, the psychologist looks for gambler personalities, those willing to play for high stakes.

“These are the ones who will play till the very end,” he observes. It is they who will carry the game show from one episode to another.

“Non-gamblers will be happy with say, P5,000,” Dellosa says. But the gamblers want more.

He also rules out people with suicidal tendencies (you don’t want a contestant slashing his wrist on TV) and those with aggressive tendencies.

“Reality TV brings out the worst in the contestants,” Dellosa adds. His job as showbiz psychologist is to make sure even the worst side of a contestant’s personality is acceptable on TV.

“All of them will put their best food forward. It is the worst side of their personality that will make one contestant different from the rest.”

(Dellosa may be reached through tel. nos. 415-6529, 415-7964 and www.randydellosa.com).