“It's Not Your Fault, You Didn't Recognize Me”: Acceptability of Domestic Violence On Reality TV

Theoretical Background and research questions/hypothesis:  Domestic violence in the US is a significant public health concern with nearly 25% of women and 14% of men experiencing severe physical violence by an intimate partner (www.cdc.gov). Popular culture's daily diet of aggression, including domestic violence, may further the problem.  Applying constructs from health communication and media effects theory, this study queries: How acceptable do young audience members find reality television portrayals of domestic violence?   Relational aggression is especially apparent on reality TV and as documentary-style reality programs capture “real” people engaging in “real” activities, they are particularly likely to be imitated (Coyne, Robinson & Nelson, 2010).  Many young women believe regular viewing of reality television normalizes fighting in a romantic relationship (www.girlscouts.org), and mediated narratives of domestic violence hold messages of tolerance for men and of blame for women (Nettleton, 2011).  

Methods:  We collected data in eight sessions with a total of 80 undergraduate (61 female, 19 male) students at a mid-sized northeastern university. Sessions included viewing a 24-minute video of content from three reality "real-life" shows:  Jersey Shore, Real World and Teen Mom. Participants used a perception analyzer system to rate in real time, moment-to-moment, how much they personally approved of the content they were viewing. Each viewing was followed by a focus group discussion that probed why the participants responded to the content the way they did.  Pre- and post-viewing questionnaires included demographic information, TV viewing habits, and attitudes toward and experiences with relational aggression.

Results:  Results indicate that many viewers, both male and female, find physical aggression troubling, but place blame on the female victim, who is often seen as the instigator. Some male participants fail to identify incidents of physical abuse as violence at all.  Survey data indicate that male participants are significantly more likely than female participants to feel that getting physical is a necessity and to have had an argument with a significant other result in a physical altercation.  Scenes in the shows studied here document aggression towards a female partner but the issue of domestic violence is rendered insignificant as the two lovers invariably reunite. Viewers respond by blaming young women for returning to perpetrators, and fail to consider the vicious cycle of domestic violence. 

Conclusions:  Domestic violence is both a personal and public issue. Unlike other types of graphic material that require disclaimers on television, domestic violence is viewed as entertaining and is portrayed as a normal aspect of relationships, thereby trivializing the seriousness of the issue. The implications of victim blaming are problematic as viewers may be cultivated into finding domestic violence acceptable in their own lives.

Implications for research and/or practice:  Research should focus on educating viewers about domestic violence so they do not perceive aggression as normal behavior in a relationship. Media literacy in this area is needed so viewers have the tools to recognize domestic violence and know that it is not acceptable.