Each one that competes on Survivor has to endure a psychological analysis earlier than being solid. From begin to end, Survivor casting takes 9 months per season, host Jeff Probst beforehand instructed TV Insider. And the psych exams are a part of the method that helps them get the lineup good every season.
The solid of Survivor 50 (who’re presently within the throes of filming in Fiji) is aware of this course of effectively, as all of them have accomplished the Survivor psych analysis for his or her authentic seasons and each after that. As Probst instructed CBS Sunday Morning forward of the Season 48 premiere, the testing is finished as a result of they “simply want to grasp you.”
“You’re going to tackle one thing that’s actually intense. Survivor is enjoyable to look at, it’s a monster to play. I imply, it brings you to your knees,” Probst stated.
It’s one factor to look at Survivor, it’s a complete different ball sport to really play it. And never everybody will thrive in that setting. That’s what the psychological analysis is designed to assist decide.
What does the Survivor psychological check entail? And what comes earlier than it? Right here’s a breakdown of this behind-the-scenes course of.
How does the Survivor casting course of work?
Anybody can apply to Survivor, and actually, the hit collection is actively casting for Survivor 51 as of the time of publication. Particulars on tips on how to apply may be discovered on the CBS Survivor casting web site. The applying features a video submission and filling out a kind.
A psychologist who used to work for the casting division, Dr. Ronald Stolberg, instructed Enterprise Insider in a 2022 essay that step one of the choice course of is getting round 100,000 video submissions all the way down to 1,000. Manufacturing assistants are accountable for that half, after which the higher-ups become involved to whittle the record of 1,000 candidates all the way down to someplace between 50 and 100 potential gamers. That strategy of elimination entails interviews with the candidates. There are quite a few interviews carried out all through each part of the method. Getting an interview with Survivor casting, even a number of interviews, isn’t a assure that you simply’ll make the ultimate reduce. As showrunner and host, Probst is deeply concerned in the entire thing.
Medical, authorized, and monetary histories are reviewed throughout this course of, with permission from the candidates, and the hopefuls are then noticed by psychologists to check their mettle for the present.
How does the Survivor psychological testing work?
Psychologists interview potential contestants after which observe them interacting with different folks with a purpose to get a way of their personalities. One of many first priorities is to weed out anybody who may current a hazard on set, in addition to individuals who is likely to be extra prone to be traumatized by the difficulties of the sport. The hunger, exhaustion, and tough social situations aren’t for everybody, and the present doesn’t need anybody to be harmed — bodily or mentally — by the expertise, in order that’s a part of the significance of the psych exams.
It’s not a foolproof system, in fact, as there may be all the time an air of unpredictability to casting, however the psych analysis is certainly one of their guardrails for this. To that finish, anybody who doesn’t reveal sufficient about themselves to ensure that the psychologists to have an excellent learn on who they’re could be weeded out as effectively.
The psychologists additionally compile a profile with particulars about how they predict these folks will play. Questions answered by way of this profile embrace issues akin to whether or not or not they suppose the participant would kind alliances, make dangerous strikes, and easily be enjoyable to look at. Stolberg summed it up in a single sentence: They’re searching for people who find themselves there for the “proper causes,” which by Survivor‘s definition is “to expertise one thing and to push themselves outdoors their consolation zone.” Stolberg additionally stated that the perfect Survivor participant is somebody real and high-energy whose spirit wouldn’t be simply softened by the difficulties of the sport.
“A extremely nice contestant is one who displays on their habits in the course of the present,” Stolberg added.
Survivor psychologists are additionally obtainable in the course of the filming course of to offer emotional help to gamers who might have it, particularly after they’re eradicated.
What sort of questions are requested in the course of the Survivor psychological check?
Probst instructed CBS Sunday Morning that the check isn’t meant to try to discover one thing “flawed,” however somewhat to get a transparent, full image of the individual making use of for his or her present. Questions embrace topics like the way you have been raised, start order, parental relationships, capacity to take care of friendships, any histories of substance abuse, how they did at school, and many others.
“It may be something,” Probst stated. “You is usually a Harvard mannequin scholar, you may be any person who struggled your complete life. We simply want to grasp you, since you’re going to tackle one thing that’s actually intense. Survivor is enjoyable to look at, it’s a monster to play. I imply, it brings you to your knees.”
Do you suppose you might have what it takes to play Survivor?
Survivor, Season 49 Premiere, Fall 2025, CBS, Season 50 Premiere, Spring 2026