A Directed Study and a Shared Love of Survivor

Emily: The idea for this reflection grew out of a directed study in a counseling master’s program and a mutual love of the show Survivor. I met Lauren when she enrolled in my graduate course, Applications of Counseling Theories, a couple of years ago. She engaged with the material in an excellent way and wrote one of the most compelling final theory integration papers I’ve had a student write to date. Following that semester, she reached out to me about digging deeper into some of the theories she had explored in the class in a directed study in our program.

Lauren: Totally! I loved Emily’s counseling theories class, as I found it to be a great space to dig into bigger questions like, what is therapy? What am I doing here in this role? How do we use theoretical ideas in a way that helps people? Emily and I also connected right away over Survivor, a reality show where contestants face physical challenges and navigate social dynamics with hopes of being voted the sole Survivor by a jury of peers.

Emily: We set out to create an engaging learning experience that blended a deeper understanding of postmodern theories with our shared interest in reality television. Lauren took on a literature review that spanned critical media studies and gender portrayals in television to women’s issues in therapy and Narrative Therapy and Feminist Therapy. One of the most generative experiences in that directed study was our regular discussions about what Lauren was finding in the research and how it connected to clinical practice and our lived experiences.

Lauren: Our shared love for this stuff first became a big paper, but we were struck by the rich conversations we had and wanted to create an interactive piece. Our discourse was a model for therapy, prompting critical thinking about theory, clinical applications of media exploration, and what Survivor tells us about gender in our culture.

Gender Dynamics and Portrayals in Survivor

Emily: I often tune into the roles contestants create for themselves. I observe female contestants frequently taking on caretaking roles and wonder if they adopt these strategies intentionally to appear non-threatening or subconsciously because these roles are familiar and expected.

Lauren: That’s an interesting question! Contestants are likely more intentional in what aspects of their gender roles they show their teammates. But how aware are they of how they’re perceived by others? I also noticed a gendered differential in who wins Survivor. While there’s a relatively even split in gender representation in the finals, juries tend to select male winners at a significantly higher percentage.

Emily: Yes, women seem to be “useful” in bringing male winners to the end of the game. When women are perceived as playing “hard” or aggressively, it’s often viewed as more threatening than when men do the same.

Lauren: Exactly! I remember a woman in Season 13 who did significant behind-the-scenes work, but lost because the jury attributed the big moves to her male counterpart. This reflects how patriarchal values influence perceptions of “the best game.”

Reality Show Edits and the Therapy “Edit”

Emily: The way the editors distill hours of footage into punchy episodes mirrors the therapeutic process. How do clients determine what to bring into therapy?

Lauren: Clients share a selective edit of themselves in therapy. Similarly, therapists act as “editors,” synthesizing what’s shared to guide the process forward.

Emily: There’s a metaphor in how clients present their narratives and how therapists choose what aspects of themselves to reveal.

Therapist Self-Disclosure and Feminist Therapy

Lauren: Feminist therapy examines power dynamics and oppression. From this lens, therapist self-disclosure can create a more equal, collaborative relationship. This connection fosters a sense of mutuality and respect.

Emily: Disclosing shared interests, like Survivor, can enhance relatability and humanize the therapeutic relationship.

Critical Consciousness and Feminist Therapy

Lauren: Survivor presents rich material to explore issues of gender roles, identity, and power. A critical consciousness can empower clients to express anger toward injustice, turning it into a motivator for action.

Emily: Absolutely! Discussions about media can help integrate critical consciousness into therapy, especially in navigating societal narratives around relationships and gender roles.

Bringing it Together

Lauren: The intersection of media and therapy can add a rewarding layer to the therapeutic relationship.

Emily: It’s an accessible tool clinicians can use right away! Speaking of which, I need to make my Survivor Fantasy League predictions for Season 50!

References

1. O’Mara-Kunz, EM, Howell, JL & Beasley, N. (2023). Surviving Racism and Sexism: What Votes in The Television Program Survivor Reveal About Discrimination. Psychological Science, 34(6), 647-736. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976231165665

2. Worell, J., & Remer, P. (2002). Feminist Perspectives in Therapy: Empowering Diverse Women (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.