In terms of the unrealistic expectations and what people would call 'socially eradicating' a lot of the contestants pursue afterwards, its the pressures and overnight fame in which I believe leads the contestants to their own self destruction.
Some people can handle the weight, some cannot.
I wouldn't call it illuminati, but I believe that the producers and set is definitely twisted to a degree. It definitely has some backwards notions, making the contestants step out of their comfort zone and undergo deformation of character for entertainment - possibly leading to mental health issues and the past suicides.