Sifting Through Relationship Misinformation on Reality TV

Reality TV has a way of sparking conversations, and when “Naked Attraction” aired on HBO Max in 2023, it definitely got people talking. Contestants baring it all in the pursuit of love, combined with some sciencey-sounding claims, caught our attention.

In a particular episode, a bold claim about testicle size and fatherhood made us raise an eyebrow. The show suggested that smaller testicles indicate a man’s potential as a nurturing father due to lower testosterone levels. It sounded a bit out there, so we decided to investigate.

As a media psychologist interested in misinformation and a relationship and data scientist, we realized that misinformation in dating and matchmaking shows like “Naked Attraction” had not been studied. What is relationship misinformation in this context? How can viewers verify the claims they hear? We wanted to find out.

Relationship misinformation is defined as false or misleading information about relationships that can be evaluated using scientific data. Think of those dating shows or pop-culture articles that claim to be science-backed—how often are they exaggerating or oversimplifying? “Naked Attraction” provided a perfect case to explore this further.

When faced with outlandish claims, like the one about testicle size, it’s essential to employ the media literacy strategy SIFT:

1. Stop and pause before accepting a claim.
2. Investigate the source for expertise or bias.
3. Find reliable coverage on the same topic.
4. Trace the claim back to its original source.

By using SIFT, we traced the testicle size claim from playful headlines to a scholarly article in a scientific journal. We even reached out to the study’s lead author for clarification.

The truth behind the claim was that there was indeed a connection between testicle size and nurturing behaviors, but the show had exaggerated the findings. Testosterone levels weren’t directly linked to parenting in the study, and no one claimed that testicle size determines mate quality or fatherhood potential.

Misinformation in entertainment media, whether reality TV or social platforms, influences how we view relationships and even biology. It’s important to question the claims we encounter, especially when the line between fact and fiction is blurred by shows like “Naked Attraction.”

So, can you predict a man’s potential as a partner based on his testicle size? According to science, no. But it sure does make for interesting TV!