What’s the secret behind The Traitors’ incredible popularity? More than 9 million viewers tuned in for the first episode of its third season. Just last week, it leapfrogged Strictly Come Dancing to claim the title of the BBC’s most-watched reality show. With this runaway success, it’s inevitable that countless copycats will soon follow. But what should they aim to capture?
A big part of the show’s charm lies with its host, Claudia Winkleman. She commands the majestic Scottish castle setting with the flair of a flamboyant gothic headmistress. Whether she’s whispering to owls or directing contestants into coffins and slime, she manages to pilot through the set using the narrow daylight gap between her thick fringe and high turtleneck.
Then there’s the cast, which stands apart from the usual lineup of wealthy social media personalities. This season features a call center worker, a care manager, a doctor, a landscaper, a window cleaner, and a barber. These folks aren’t eyeing lucrative contracts post-show; they’re gunning for the £100,000 prize, making them more intriguing to watch.
But the real magic of The Traitors lies in its clever twist on classic reality TV tropes. While there are still the banishments, alliances, and emotional roller coasters we’re used to, there’s now a new layer of strategy. Viewers are left questioning how much of what they see is genuine or merely a façade to mislead others.
The beauty of the show is its simplicity: inspired by the party game Mafia, a select group of players is secretly labeled as “traitors,” tasked with eliminating others. Meanwhile, the “faithful” participants vote on who they suspect. The drama builds naturally from the strategic tensions among players vying for each other’s trust in a competitive environment. We love The Traitors because it feels less like manufactured TV drama and more like a fascinating social experiment that offers insights into human behavior.
So, what do we learn from it? A recent poll by research group More in Common suggests that The Traitors reveals links between personality traits and political preferences. Generally, those who prefer playing as a “faithful” lean towards being Labour supporters, while those drawn to the “traitor” role tend to be Conservatives. Ed Hodgson from More in Common notes that this aligns with personality traits: those inclined to betray have a heightened “threat perception,” similar to right-wing voters. This inclination, he suggests, might manifest in a desire for control over various domains, be it borders or competitive dynamics in a show.
There’s plenty of discussion surrounding this theory, appealing because it flatters both political extremes. The right might appreciate being seen as more conscientious, while the left as more open to experience. Everyone likes to think their perspective is superior. But are these divides so clear-cut? Do voting patterns truly correlate with personality traits across regions? Although similar correlations appear both here and in the US, Democrats and Labour supporters endorse different values. Do groups really align politically because each person independently chose so?
In The Traitors, personality gives little away about one’s allegiance. Faithful players often wrongly suspect someone based on misleading clues. Minah, with her friendly demeanor, turns out to be a traitor. Meanwhile, Dan, despite his abrasive nature, is mistakenly eliminated as a traitor, only to reveal he was faithful.
Perhaps the show emphasizes a different truth. One enduring lesson in social psychology is the power of group influence. From a young age, we interpret the world through the reactions of those around us, shaping our values in the process. Many decisions, political or otherwise, are molded by the people in our circles rather than stemming solely from our personal traits. While research might correlate personality with politics, how much of it is shaped by our environments—our family, community, and friends?
Western culture often champions individual autonomy, yet The Traitors might remind us of the sway of group dynamics. Ideas spread like wildfire, and contestants can be swept up in the current of group consensus, sometimes to their detriment. It’s both entertaining and a reflection of our social nature. Ultimately, we evolved to thrive in groups, which means we’re primed to conform.
Think you’re an independent thinker? Take a look around—how different are your beliefs from those close to you?
Martha Gill, an Observer columnist, brings us these insights.
