one experiment, for instance, participants who were exposed to an episode of the weight-loss show The Biggest Loser, versus an episode of a nature show, walked away with a significantly greater dislike of overweight individuals.14 But these shows have arguably more constructive outcomes as well. Another study, published in The American Economic Review, found strong evidence that the show 16 and Pregnant had reduced births by teens.15 Reality TV is important to understand, not only because of what it can tell us about our lives but because of what it does to us. The experience of watching these
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