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San Diego's Survivor Psychology
Edited by Ron DonohoRichard Levak houses his psychology practice near the beach in Del Mar. The British psychologist takes advantage of daily two-hour lunch breaks to partake in a not-so-British pastime: surfing.
The doctor cannot resist making observations about people. As he puts it, in an Anthony Hopkins–turned–SoCal surfer accent, “Man, I’m interested in people and what makes them tick.”
His ability to read people prompted La Jolla psychologist Gene Ondrusek to ask Levak to consult on CBS’ mega-hit reality show Survivor. Levak hesitated, considering his reputation. The show’s well-known premise: People are picked to inhabit a deserted locale. At weekly tribal councils, contestants vote somebody out. Last one standing wins $1 million.
“It seemed like it could be seen as a little sleazy, but I get seduced into projects to try and understand people better,” he says.
Levak has been called on again. He serves the same task for Survivor: The Australian Outback, premiering January 28, following the Super Bowl. He is unable to comment on any aspect of the new show and calls the producers “cagey.”
Survivor is being hailed by academics, including Levak, as a gold mine of material about how people interact and make decisions in times of conflict. “And I thought we could actually help, so no one would get hurt,” he adds.
The risks are real for the psychologically unsuited. In 1997, the first contestant banished from Expedition Robinson—
the Swedish inspiration for Survivor—promptly threw himself under a train.
For the first Survivor, Levak and Ondrusek were initially brought in to ensure all contestants were of sound mind. It dawned on producers that these readers of psychological tea leaves had other uses, too. Emotionally stable, psychologically healthy, easygoing people—while good policemen and pilots—don’t necessarily make for the best television.
“They were looking for characters to interact with one another,” Levak says. “They’re not looking for straight arrows; they’re looking for people with a certain richness of character. We helped the producers discover who these people were.”
Ondrusek and Levak designed a run of tests, interviews and questionnaires. “We decided to use a very sophisticated test to measure whether a person is being honest and consistent,” Levak says. “We looked at emotional intelligence, the need for control and affection.”
Critics have questioned the ethics of reality shows like Survivor. Former NBC chairman Grant Tinker says, “We’ve really hit the bottom. I suppose there’s no limit until somebody does something so offensive that [reality-based programs] will stop.”
Ondrusek and Levak were both aware of the ethical dilemma. “Aren’t we, in a sense, exploiting people by putting them through this trauma for entertainment purposes?” Ondrusek asks, rhetorically. “Our perspective has always been that these are people who would seek out these things and knowingly want to engage in them for the experience and the adventure anyway.”
After the first cast was chosen, Ondrusek set out for the South China Sea, where he provided counseling for banished contestants. He was, in fact, the first face each rejected tribesman saw.
While Ondrusek counseled, Levak took a wrong turn that will forever top the ranks of irony. He was lost for two and a half days while skiing at Mammoth. As he told The Mammoth Times, “I find a rock with trees in front. I use the snow around the rock to build a long, coffin-shaped shelter. That night, I begin to think maybe I’d die.”
He didn’t, of course. Those who found him credited his physical strength and presence of mind. Yes, he’s a survivor.
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