Episode 132 - The History of Truman Show Delusion

Text Abby and Alan

Abby and Alan discuss the history of Truman Show delusion, an example of cinema influencing culture and society. Have you ever felt like your life is a TV show and you're the unwitting star? It's more common than you think.
We talk through the research of Joel Gold, a psychiatrist who coined the term "Truman Show delusion" after seeing patients who believed they were starring in a reality show against their will. We discuss how individuals' beliefs about being the centerpiece of a reality show mirror the narrative of the iconic film, "The Truman Show," and raise questions about the power of media to shape our innermost fears and fantasies.
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Sources

• The Truman Show movie from 1998, directed by Peter Weir.
• Psychology Today article by Mark D. Griffiths PHD - The Truman Show Delusion
• New Yorker Article by Andrew Marantz - Unreality Star
• WEB MD article by Suzanne Wright called Truman Show Delusion
• New York Times article by Sarah Kershaw called Look Closely, Doctor: See The Camera?
• National Post article called Reality Bites from 2008
• IMDB + Wikipedia.

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