The Traitors: A Reflection on Deception, Trust, and Children's Mental Health
What Does The Hit Reality Show Tell Us About Difference?
For long-suffering/benefitting subscribers, you will know that I often find my interests sneaking into what I write about here. Like a lot of people reading this, I find myself enthralled by ‘The Traitors’ as has now come to be an annual tradition (for me, at least).
The BBC reality show ‘The Traitors’ has captivated audiences with its suspenseful blend of deception, betrayal, and psychological intrigue. While the show provides thrilling entertainment, it also raises questions about how we perceive those who betray trust and the potential impact on children's mental health.
Let’s be honest though: we're hooked on the drama, the suspense, the sheer audacity of it all—but beyond the gasps and "OMG" moments, could this reality show actually be a sneaky educational tool for our younger viewers? How might ‘The Traitors’ might actually help them navigate the complexities of the real world.
The Perception of Traitors
In ‘The Traitors,’ participants are tasked with identifying and eliminating so-called traitors who are secretly working to sabotage the group's efforts. Viewers often react strongly to those revealed as traitors, labelling them as dishonest, manipulative, and untrustworthy. This societal tendency to judge harshly those who break trust can have significant consequences for individuals' mental well-being. There’s also the solidarity amongst those who are not the traitors—the faithfuls—and how they view anybody who does not fit in with suspicion.
Children are particularly susceptible to the influence of media and social narratives. Watching characters being labelled as traitors can reinforce negative stereotypes and create a sense of fear or distrust towards those who act differently. This can lead to anxiety, social isolation, and difficulty forming trusting relationships. Without starting any controversy, a lot of commentators also note that ‘The Traitors’ replicates a lot of dynamics that are present outside of the castle too—with observations that South Asian men have found themselves marginalised in the show; how the traits of neurodivergent people are disbelieved or criticised with Season One’s Aaron being accused of being a traitor because he was overly energetic and talkative (traits that are a part of his ADHD).
It's crucial to remember that betrayal is a complex issue with various underlying motivations. Instead of resorting to judgment and condemnation, we should strive to understand the factors that contribute to such behaviour. Empathy and compassion can help foster a more supportive environment for individuals who have made mistakes or faced difficult choices. ‘The Traitors’ actually depicts this kind of dilemma quite well—while some of the contestants might have a particular desire to be a traitor, they actually have no choice about their role and they are are into it. How they navigate the pressures of their challenge, the pressures of being different are a stark reminder that difference sets us apart in good and bad ways, and in ways we do not always get to choose.
A Masterclass In Social and Emotional Dynamics
That darker side to one side, it’s also a rich masterclass for young people in thinking about social dynamics and how to figure out who their group is. Think about:
Body Language and Deception: Those shifty eyes, nervous laughs, and overly enthusiastic handshakes? Kids learn to read between the lines and pick up on subtle cues. Maybe think about a retired opera singer and a certain head snap…
Group Dynamics and Influence: Who emerges as the leader? How do alliances form and crumble? The show is a fascinating study in how groups function (or sometimes, gloriously malfunction).
Strategic Thinking and Decision-Making: From voting tactics to calculated risks, "The Traitors" demonstrates that sometimes, you gotta play the game to survive.
While the show might seem cutthroat, it also offers valuable lessons in emotional intelligence:
Empathy and Perspective-Taking: Witnessing the emotional fallout of betrayal helps kids understand the impact of their actions on others.
Coping with disappointment and injustice: Seeing contestants grapple with unfair eliminations and broken trust provides a framework for dealing with setbacks in their own lives.
Resilience and bouncing back: Even after a brutal banishment, the remaining players regroup and carry on. A valuable lesson in perseverance!
The show also provides a unique opportunity to discuss complex topics with your kids:
Ethics and Morality: Is it ever okay to lie or deceive to achieve a goal? What are the consequences of breaking trust?
Friendship, Loyalty: How do you choose your friends? What qualities make a good friend?
Social Responsibility: What does it mean to be a good member of a community? How can we contribute positively to the groups we belong to?
So, Embrace the Backstabbing! Okay, not really—but I mean to say that, while ‘The Traitors’ might not be your typical educational program, but it offers a captivating and surprisingly insightful look at human behaviour. With a little guidance and open discussion, it can be a valuable tool for helping young people understand the complexities of the social world and develop essential life skills. Just maybe hide the remote when it's time for bed.
In short?
As far as reality TV shows, this one provides a lot of scope for having tricky conversations, exposing young people—especially adolescents training for adulthood—to complicated social questions, dynamics that can sometimes be distasteful and showing how complex living with and knowing each as communities can be. It shows the better and the worse qualities of humans—and it is a safe way of trying to think about the type of people we want to be. It’s just as safe a way for children to do the same thing, with our help.
Can you help me?
Other than telling you that you can wait ‘The Traitors’ on BBC iPlayer, I am not sure how I might go about helping you get started with that. I do not offer any tech support.
I did touch on a lot of darker topics here though—feeling like a misfit, being discriminated against, and feeling like you don’t belong or you aren’t listened to. These types of experiences, especially in adolescence and childhood, are extremely difficult to come to terms with. I’d be happy to have a chat with you about how I might provide some support.
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