How Pirates and Mobsters Act More Rationally than Members of Reality Shows

Anyone who has ever watched a reality television show can attest to the fickle positions of the cast members toward their teammates. In the isolated world created by the producers, a sense of “survival of the fittest” immediately emerges with leaders that tend to dominate the rest of the contestants throughout the season with each individual finding their niche in the group.

While “forging alliances” are common and backstabbing becomes a vital component of survival, all conventions of a moral society are completely lost throughout the process. The most heinous example is the elimination in which contestants anonymously vote against their teammates, influencing a sense of detachment from the action. While vocalizing votes could influence a contestant to be held more accountable for actions, the improvement is only marginal since a potentially cruel vote is embraced as the “popular” decision by the crowd.

Contagion Theory attempts to reconcile the behavior by postulating that the formation of a crowd as a whole eliminates individual association and consequences of actions. A cohesive group can withstand ridicule from opponents far better than any member as an individual. In the formation of a crowd, the audacity far exceeds the demeanor of even the most extreme component of the group, propelling behavior to the realm of irrationality.

The contagion dynamic, while comprised of many members, each with unique roles within the group, is essentially a unit without a leader, overarching the actions of the crowd. Without an outside factor of regulation, the crowd becomes unpredictable, further detaching themselves from such insignificancies as cause and effect.

Though viewed by pop culture as rough and reckless, pirates have a strict behavioral code. They abstain from gambling, seducing women, and drinking in their quarters after 8pm. Desertion during a battle can be punishable by death. Each pirate is entitled to a fair share of booty as well as a vote in matters of concern. The mafia, despite reputation, has their own version of the 10 Commandments, including laws that forbid them from looking at another’s wife and taking money that belongs to family members. Additionally, all members are mandated to respect their wives and missing an appointment is considered to be disrespectful.

So what does this all mean? Is it proof that the government needs more regulation? Possibly, but I feel that our current three branch system with checks and balances is sufficient. I think that the real problem faced by financial institutions is accountability. Most egregious financial scandals can be attributed to lack of accountability on the part of the perpetrator. During the Enron scandal, there were several parties involved who doctored the books. Since no singular person reaped benefits, the crowd as a whole disassociated themselves from the illegal actions. The same results occur when the wrongdoing is completely concealed. Just as criminals commit crimes in the evening, when it is less likely for them to be caught in the act, white-collar crimes often take place “behind closed doors.” It is not until a scandal is brought into the light, that the culprit begins to associate themselves with the deeds.

So next time you watch your favorite reality TV show, pay attention to the collusion taking place between the characters, and I am sure that you will easily be able to identify the ringleader of the shenanigans.