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Eight Truths About Human Behavior I Learned From Watching Survivor
On September 22, 2021, the 41st season of Survivor will premier on CBS and Paramount+. This is an amazing lifespan for a primetime show, and it demonstrates the permanence of reality television on TV. It’s also no secret that I love competition reality shows. I was late to the survivor bandwagon, opting instead for the summer fun of Big Brother or The Challenge on MTV. I prefer these shows, but Survivor seems to be the most influential in the genre.
When watching people compete, there are some truths about human behavior that emerge. Early into its life, this was part of Survivor’s appeal. Only one person will remain in the end, but it’s an individual game that nobody can win alone. As the show grew, some twists were implemented and strategies were built on the trajectories of prior seasons.
Survivor creates its own little world. While people are on the island, they are free from many social norms. The show has featured meek players who crawl their way to success while outspoken leaders have been immediately eliminated from the game. Few people will ever have the opportunity to live in such an environment, and seasons now focus on navigating a social landscape. The island itself is less important, and (SPOILER ALERT) everyone survives the show. No one has died as a result of Survivor: at least not the US version.
