Why We Secretly Love to Hate Game Show Contestants (And Sometimes Just Love ‘Em)

Hey PopCultX fam—Paige here, back in the (game show) with another spicy take, and this time we’re throwing trivia and tantrums into the ring. You ever been watching Jeopardy! and think, “Wow, I hope this dude loses that smug grin by Final Jeopardy?” Or cheered like your rent depended on it when the dark horse took home the million on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Yeah. Same. Welcome to the beautiful, petty, and oddly therapeutic world of game show psychology.

Rooting Against: The Art of Televised Vengeance

Let’s cut to the chase—sometimes, you just know who you’re rooting against the second they open their mouth. Maybe it’s the over-rehearsed humblebrag, maybe it’s their “fun fact” involving three startups and a triathlon. Either way, they’ve entered the villain edit zone in your brain, and it’s game on.

1. Schadenfreude: The Sweet, Sweet Cringe

Oh yes, we’re going German right out the gate. Schadenfreude is the guilty giggle you let out when Mr. Harvard-Law-Got-Perfect-SATs bombs a basic geography question. (Lookin’ at you, Jeopardy! flubs). It’s not because you’re evil—okay maybe a little—but because watching someone fall off their high horse is emotionally satisfying in a way that therapy can’t quite touch.

2. Parasocial Paranoia: The One-Sided Frenemy

You know that contestant you irrationally despise like they personally cut you off in traffic? Congrats, you’re in a parasocial relationship, baby. That’s when your brain thinks it knows someone because you’ve seen them on TV for all of two minutes, and it’s decided whether they’d get invited to your brunch crew—or blocked on sight.

Don’t take my word for it; read more about this weird brain hack in Wikipedia’s breakdown on parasocial interaction.

3. In-Group Bias: Team “People Like Me”

Let’s be real: we all have a type. Not romantically (although shoutout to Wheel of Fortune fans thirsting over contestants), but emotionally. We root for the ones who feel like us—our age, our vibe, our underdog energy. And if someone rolls in reeking of Main Character Syndrome with zero relatability? Welp. That eject button’s getting pressed hard.

Humans have been tribal since we were grunting at each other over fire, and science backs it up.

Fan Faves vs. Fails: A Pop Quiz of Popularity

• Jeopardy! champions with ten-day streaks? Half of Twitter wants to marry them, the other half wants them humbled yesterday.
• Wheel of Fortune contestants who whiff easy puzzles? Viral in minutes. We live for the chaos.
• The Traitors? Don’t even get me started. That show is like Lord of the Flies with better lighting. Trust no one. Root for the pettiest.

More on that beautifully manipulative dynamic right here.

Paige’s Final Spin: You’re Not a Monster, You’re Just Human

Why do we root against game show contestants? Because we love a story arc. We crave justice. And sometimes, we just need to see the cocky guy misspell “bananas.”

And you know what? That’s okay.

These shows are a mirror—of our fears, our aspirations, and our petty little hopes that someone else trips so we can feel a little taller (emotionally, at least).

So the next time you cheer when a trivia titan crashes and burns, pour yourself a drink, laugh it off, and remember: it’s all just part of the game.

Over to you—what kind of contestant makes you throw popcorn at the screen? Let’s get salty in the comments.