Psychologist Dubs Faraaz a 'Dark Horse' on The Traitors, But Questions Timing
For many devoted viewers of The Traitors, Faraaz's dramatic last-minute accusation that Rachel is a Traitor was a moment of pure vindication. After weeks of subtle hints and other players falling by the wayside, a Faithful finally appeared to grasp the truth that had been evident all along. However, despite this bold challenge to the Traitors' dominance, the 22-year-old auditor's prospects of clinching victory in the final remain precarious, according to psychological analysis.
Expert Analysis: A Game Transformed
Speaking exclusively to Metro, Dr Rachael Molitor, a lecturer in psychology at Coventry University, offered her professional assessment. 'He's definitely my dark horse,' she stated. 'He's probably playing the best game now, which is a complete 180 from the start of the series.'
Dr Molitor was quick to contextualise the edited nature of the show, noting, 'We have to remember this is highly edited, but he didn't really have much screen time from the very beginning. He wasn't part of the main sort of popularity groups.' She elaborated on his unexpected rise, saying, 'But he's been unexpected… I do think that he's playing an excellent game now and we're starting to hear from him, however, whether people are starting to listen to him is a very different thing.'
The Psychology of Being Heard
Dr Molitor explained a crucial psychological principle at play: individuals can speak extensively, but the critical factor is whether their audience is truly listening. 'At the moment he is now starting to speak, but it's just whether people are going to give him that time of day because they are so blinkered into each of their own stories and ideas that they will probably be missing what he's saying,' she observed.
When pressed for a prediction on the ultimate winner, the psychologist leaned towards the Traitors. 'I think the Traitors are going to win this,' she asserted. 'I think they are because they've got out the Faithfuls who actually had a really good idea of who the Traitors were.' She added, 'So unfortunately, all the really good people who were trying to work out who people were. They're gone. And looking at the lineup at the moment. I don't really think there is a faithful that doesn't fully trust Rachel.'
Body Language Breakdown: A Power Struggle
In a separate analysis for Metro, body language expert Judi James, representing Paddy Power Games, dissected the tense confrontation between Rachel and Faraaz at the end of Wednesday's episode. She highlighted the distinct dynamic, noting, 'Unlike Roxy, Faraaz wants to be right about naming Rachel as a Traitor, making the collusion aspect negligible. He offers her no exit, just watches her closely.'
Judi described Rachel's response as a calculated use of 'soft power signals' to deflect his challenge, avoiding an outright denial that might inadvertently bolster his standing. She framed it as a 'parent/child transaction' where the parent, Rachel, does not feel compelled to openly defend herself.
Discussing Rachel's composure, Judi called it a 'masterclass' in controlled expression, but revealed one revealing slip. 'Even her scarily pitch-perfect body language display shows it can have a flaw here,' she explained. 'As she turns her gaze away from Faraaz, there is one very large swallow from her, like an internal gulp. A large swallow like this will often occur when we're feeling anxious and when the fight or flight response is kicking in.' Judi concluded that this subtle tell indicated 'even her masterclass levels of body language can suffer a very small failure now and again.'
Context and Fan Theories
This psychological scrutiny comes amid fervent fan speculation online, with some viewers theorising about a potential 'secret plot' involving Rachel and another contestant, Stephen. The analysis underscores the high-stakes psychological warfare defining the show's final stages, where every word and gesture is microscopically examined.
As the series builds towards its climax, the central question remains: has Faraaz's strategic awakening arrived too late to dismantle the Traitors' carefully constructed facade, or can this self-proclaimed 'dark horse' mount a last-minute charge for victory?
