University team explores the Psychology Of…. The Celebrity Traitors
As The Celebrity Traitors grips the nation, Psychologists at the University of Chester are providing perspectives on how the dynamic of fame is changing the game.
Dr Kevin Hochard, Dr Clea Wright, and Professor Lisa Oakley have returned to the podcast studio to share their expertise on human behaviour as they discuss the Psychology Of.... The Traitors.
The new 30-minute episode of the podcast, running alongside the highly anticipated BBC One series of the TV phenomenon with a celebrity twist, is available now on Spotify.
The all-star cast - including Comedian Alan Carr, Actor, Writer and Presenter Stephen Fry and Singer and Activist Charlotte Church - is playing the ultimate game of detection, deception and trust, in the hope of winning a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.
In the Psychology Of....The Celebrity Traitors podcast episode released this week, Kevin, Clea and Lisa give their psychological take on the events of the first two instalments of the star-studded show. They explore:
- The contestants’ motivations for taking part.
- How being a public figure affects all-important first impressions.
- The selection of the Traitors.
- Confirmation bias - whether what the celebrities are seeing fits with their existing beliefs - and how this affects authenticity and trust such as how Kate Garraway has been perceived by her fellow game-players.
- Those who have stepped up to leadership roles - in the shape of Jonathan Ross exhibiting social confidence and Stephen Fry exhibiting intellectual confidence - and which could win out.
- How humour helps celebrities deal with deception and supports the building of bonds.
- The forming of alliances due to aspects such as proximity, age and status.
Kevin said: “The Traitors has become a must-see hit show, growing in popularity with each series, and placing a captivating magnifying glass on human behaviour.
“Our podcast offers psychological reasons as to why the contestants behave in the ways they do, and this series’ switch with a celebrity cast adds a fascinating new dynamic which is already creating big differences in the game.
“We were very excited for this series to start and can’t wait to share more on the podcast - with fans of the show as well as those interested in Psychology - about what could be behind the unfolding actions and events, and what it could indicate for episodes ahead.”
Image: Dr Kevin Hochard, Prof Lisa Oakley and Dr Clea Wright discussing The Traitors at this year’s Festival of Ideas.