According to a novel Brigham Young University research, the popular reality shows contain aggressive content as compared to equally popular dramatic shows, daily soaps and comedy shows.

The study researchers made this discovery after assessing five reality shows and five non-reality shows.

They detected 52 acts of aggression per hour on reality TV as against 33 per hour for the non-reality programs.

And none other that 'Apprentice' led the list with 85 acts of verbal or relational aggression per hour, whereas Simon Cowell and 'American Idol' has 57 aggressive acts per hour.

Sarah Coyne, a BYU professor of family life and lead author of the study said, "I knew the level of aggression was going to be high, but I had no idea it was going to be this high."

The scientists studied 120 hours of programming and gave codes to each and every case of physical, verbal and relational aggression on the 10 shows they chose.

Regardless of the shows being 'reality shows', the aggression part seemed to be aroused by the show makers themselves.

"Of any type of program out there, I would think that reality programs are the most likely to be imitated," Coyne said. "All audiences think it won't affect them, but we aren't as immune as we think we are."

The study results will appear in the next month issue of The Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media. (With Inputs from Agencies)