Okay, so I don't get TV and haven't watched TV in over 6 years now. However, when I travel, I do watch it because really, what else can one do in a hotel room with oneself and three dogs? About a year ago, I saw "What Not to Wear" and fell in love with the show. At first I was incredulous (they have toned down the show quite a bit from then), until I realized that it isn't about the clothes, it is about self-esteem.

Anyway, one of my students has graciously been feeding me VHS tapes of the show and I hungerly await Friday nights Agility class to get my "fix." A few weeks ago, she had also taped Hell's Kitchen, so I watched it. I was appalled. I had nightmares that night that all included an enormous amount of screaming and yelling and I woke up sweating on numerous occassions. I watched it again to try to get it out of my head. (Kind of like listening to a song on the radio to get the tune out of your head) I became interested in the show from a behavioral standpoint and have seen six episodes so far.

The first thing that I puzzled over was why these people allowed themselves (actually put themselves in the position) to be screamed at and insulted on TV. Money of course, since the big prize is a job as a chef for $250,000. per year. I understand that the "scream factor" is what is selling the show, and I'll get back to that in a minute.

So these "contestants" are being harrassed and abused (apparently all willingly) and each and every time they are cursed at, they all go catatonic. You can see it in their eyes. It is heartbreaking for me to see. They may recover, however if yelled at again, they go deeper into that state and are unable to recover themselves or tend to the task at hand - even with the huge stakes. There was one episode where a few of the contestants actually froze in place and were unable to move. To help themselves try to dig out of the pit, they redirect their aggression on each other, blaming every one else for their own shortcomings (except for "CHEF" of course). They bicker, blame and act utterly childish and normal.

It is normal to redirect rather than take out one's aggression on the original "attacker." We do it, dogs do it, maybe even the birds and bees do it. Going catatonic is normal in circumstances like this and I have seen dogs in that state. Beyond heartbreaking. Unfortunately, many people think when they see their dogs in that state, that the dog is actually compliant, when in fact, they are just shut down. And thus continuing the myth that one must punish a dog that is aggressing because punishment "works." I am also seeing that as the weeks go by, the contestants are becoming a little habituated to the cursing and don't shut down as fast. However, the bickering, blame and redirection is getting worse.

The only one being positively reinforced is CHEF because he is getting his "jollies" off. I can't believe it is all just acting on his part. He must have a great deal of anger in his own life, and is redirecting onto the contestants.

I of course, view the show from the positive trainer perspective and can easily see how CHEF could get the behaviors he wants by using positive reinforcement. But of course, the networks want the conflict, thrive on conflict however violent. One can't blame the networks, because if the public didn't hunger for this type of show, it wouldn't be on the air.

Sad.