There’s A New Podcast About The Psychology Of Love Island

A fruity and fascinating psychological discussion about the 2018 season of Love Island, the podcast (which isn’t affiliated with ITV or the show) is hosted by counsellor Laura Golding and psychologist Lauren May – two friends and long-term Love Island fans.

“We’ve both been avid viewers since the beginning, but always felt there was more to be dissected about the show,” Golding and May tell SL. “We found ourselves trying to figure out why the contestants behave the way they do, and everyone we talked to was always really interested too. So, this summer, we decided to share our thoughts with everyone else and make a podcast for all the other deep-thinking viewers.”

The duo both studied psychology at university before branching out into different areas of the field: Golding worked in mental health hospitals and residential settings for people suffering with acute mental health issues, before becoming a private counsellor in south-west London; while May has a background in marketing, consumer behaviour analysis, and is now finishing a masters degree in organisational psychology – she hopes to apply her knowledge to helping increase employee well-being in the workplace.

So, from their psychological standpoint, why do they think our nation is so hooked on the reality TV show? “Whilst ‘The greatest thing you’ll ever learn, is to love and be loved in return’ is a quote from one of our favourite films, Moulin Rouge!, it’s backed up by psychological evidence,” Golding explains. “We’re biologically designed to procreate and, as a species, crave human connection to validate ourselves and boost our self-esteem. We need groups to survive, and Love Island really taps into the dynamics of this, which is one of the reasons we think it’s so addictive.”

She also adds that, in an era of stress and burnout, it’s relaxing for viewers to zone out of their own busy lives and into another life – full of sun, sex and drama – to unwind. In doing so, we get seriously invested in the contestants: “Seeing someone go through the ups and downs of a relationship is to see someone at their most vulnerable and it’s easy to become invested in their story.”

Now, onto the podcast. The latest episode of Love’s a Beach – ‘Week 1 in Love Island: Attraction, Insecurities, and Excess Baggage’ – centres around the first week in the villa, as the duo discuss what makes people attracted to each other, how their attachment styles affect their behaviour in relationships, why people get jealous and whether there’s such a thing as a ‘perfect face’.

Each new episode – airing every Monday – will look back at the previous week's Love Island highlights, covering everything from the tears to true love. “Some topics we’re looking into at the moment are body language, age gaps and body image, so watch this space,” Golding reveals. And if you already can’t wait for the next instalment, you’ll want to catch up on the previous one too, in which Golding and May chat about finding fame in post-villa life for the 2017 finalists.

And the best part of all (aside from allowing the hardcore fans among us to gossip about the show even more)? As Golding puts it, the podcast could finally convince all those Love Island cynics that the show isn’t simply mindless viewing, but a pretty fascinating social experiment which can spark discussions on thought-provoking, intellectual topics – take that, TV-taste judgers.

Listen to Love’s a Beach for free now on iTunes or subscribe on the Apple Podcast app.