BUFFALO, N.Y. — When Survivor premieres its milestone 50th season on Feb. 25, longtime fans will see the return of one of the show’s most theatrical and polarizing contestants: Benjamin “Coach” Wade.
At Canisius University, his comeback is more than entertainment — it is the subject of serious academic research.
Sarah Woelffel ’26, a biology major in the All-College Honors Program, devoted her honors thesis to Wade, the self-proclaimed “Dragon Slayer” who first appeared on Survivor: Tocantins in 2008 and later returned for seasons 20 and 23. Wade is now set to compete again in season 50, titled Survivor: In the Hands of the Fans.
Woelffel’s thesis, The Narcissistic Tendencies of a Dragon Slayer, applies psychobiography — a research method that analyzes a public figure through established psychological theory — to examine Wade’s behavior across multiple seasons of the show.
“His flamboyant behavior on the show reflected his belief that he was a noble and heroic player in a game of lies and deceit,” Woelffel writes.
Drawing from hours of televised footage, including confessionals, tribal councils and camp interactions, she identified patterns of grandiosity, attention-seeking behavior and shifting presentations of identity. “It is undeniable that the self-proclaimed Dragon Slayer is very narcissistic,” she writes.
At the same time, Woelffel is careful to distinguish between observable behavior and definitive diagnosis. Because Survivor is a produced television show — shaped by editing, performance and audience perception — she acknowledges the limits of interpretation.
“We may never know if Coach is really a narcissistic character or if it has simply become the character he plays for the public,” she writes.
Her analysis places Wade’s behavior within the broader psychology of Survivor, which she argues offers a distinctive environment for studying personality under pressure.
“Survivor presents a unique opportunity for psychological research that exists beyond the restrictions of ethical studies,” Woelffel writes.
On the island, contestants operate in a stripped-down social system where alliances shift, deception is strategic and social approval can determine survival.
“These traits are not only acceptable but common on Survivor since players live in a different society that has minimal rules and regulations on behaviors,” she writes. “Players have stolen from others, destroyed food, hidden essential camp equipment, lied about family deaths, and betrayed people, but that is the essence of the game; do anything you can to win $1 million.”
Her thesis ultimately argues that the show offers insight into how identity, ego and morality adapt when familiar social structures disappear.
“In Survivor, we are uniquely able to see just how far people are willing to go when there are no consequences,” she writes.
The project reflects the type of original, research-driven inquiry encouraged through Canisius University’s Honors Program, where students are challenged to apply academic theory to contemporary issues and cultural phenomena. By examining a widely recognized television personality through rigorous psychological frameworks, Woelffel demonstrates how popular media can serve as a meaningful lens for understanding human behavior.
As season 50 brings the “Dragon Slayer” back into competition more than a decade after his last appearance, audiences will once again debate his strategy, style and self-mythology. At Canisius, his return also highlights how a primetime television phenomenon can become the foundation for scholarly exploration.
