Factors of Celebrity Worship

Influencing Factors of Celebrity Worship
1. Demographic Factor
Idolization varies with age and is linked to gender. Studies have found that the degree of a
singers idolization decreases with age and that this phenomenon is more common among
girls. At the age of 10C11 years, about 85% of girls adore female singers. By contrast, boys
have a slight preference for male singers (about 58%). At the age of 13C14 years, about 50%
of girls and 75% of boys admire male singers. At the age of 16C17 years, both boys and girls
worship male singers by more than 80%. In later adolescence, teenagers interest in pop
singers drops, and idolization gradually disappears.
2. Internal Psychological Factors
a. Desire for fame
Reeves et al. (2013) discovered the connection between celebrity worship and craving
reputation [32]. The Absorption-Addiction model of McCutcheon et al. (2002) may
explain this association: some people with loosely structured identity are more likely to
have an obsession with celebrities because they try to strengthen their identity struc-
ture and gain satisfaction [29]. However, when addictive elements are added into this
process, the dynamics of motivations may result in extreme behaviours in an attempt to
keep satisfaction with their favourite celebrities. Thus, for those who aspire to be
famous, identifying with celebrities who have all the characteristics they need can be a
kind of compensation for their desire for fame.
b. Materialism
A considerable positive correlation can be observed between materialistic values and
celebrity worship [3]. This conclusion confirms the results of previous studies: indi-
viduals who had high scores on a measure of celebrity worship have been proven to be
materialistic [14]. As for the association, a possible explanation is that the extreme
worship of celebrities can be attributed partly to the dreams of expensive clothes, big
houses and fancy sports cars owned by many celebrities [14]. Another explanation is that
people with psychological defects are prone to seeking an exterior source of sat-
isfaction, including celebrity worship and materialism, to compensate for their defects
[33].
c. Belonging need
Celebrities associate with worshipers as idealized friends. Such affiliations may also
temporarily alleviate inclusion needs [16]. Giles (2002) found that individuals with a
vulnerable identity may have an obsessive, one-sided emotional connection with
celebrities to compensate for their social defects, and reduce their belonging needs
through this parasocial relationship with admired celebrities [11]. D. N. Greenwood &
Long (2011) also discovered a positive connection between the belonging needs of
singles and the imagined intimacy with celebrities of the opposite sex [15]. Ang & Chan
(2018) found that becoming a member of a fan club helped people solve loneliness and
met their needs for interpersonal relationships [1].
d. Morbid psychology
British scholars have found that intense-personal and borderline-pathological fans are
positively correlated with obsessive-compulsive disorder, dissociation and fantasy
proneness [27]. Maltby et al. (2003) found that the extreme degree of celebrity worship
is related to neuroticism and psychoticism [6]. Another research among participants
from Europe, America, Canada and Australia demonstrated that celebrity-focused peo-
ple are significantly associated with dissociative experience [37], which suggested that
celebrity admirers may be divorced from real life because of their fantasies, leading to
separation.
3. External Factors
a. Influence of social media
Evidence shows that television has contributed to the growing fascination of Ameri- can
society in the private lives of celebrities [17]. Recently, celebrities have found that social
networking sites (SNSS) are excellent channels to communicate with fans [18]. Through
SNS interactive tools, such as the like button and comments to establish a parasocial
relationship, the relationship with celebrities convinces fans that they have similar values
beliefs and interests with celebrities and other fans. In addition, on SNS, fans can interact
with celebrities they like without any physical obstacles, which meets their psychological
needs (including happiness) and enables them to build strong relationships with
celebrities (including recognition and commitment) [9].
b. Influence of interpersonal relationship
For people who intend to develop interpersonal relationships, celebrity worship is
considered to be helpful, because the characteristics of parasocial relationships with
celebrities are similar to friendships in real life [1], and the experience is still considered
real. This parasocial relationship has many similarities with actual social relationships
[12]. Because the relationship is regarded as a safe model that allows people to know
more about relationships, even about their intimate relationships, those who are
dissatisfied with real-life relationships tend to choose the parasocial relationships with
unrealistic figures.
c. Influence of the peer group
In early adolescence, peer groups play a special role in influencing individuals. Ado-
lescents are generally in the transition state from the family system to society and are
marginalized in adult society. As a result, they turn to their peers for advice and support.
They depend on their peers and follow their values and the manners that are typical of
young culture. In reality, idolization is often a necessary element of young culture, and
this behaviour is promoted, favoured and encouraged by peer groups [31].
d. Lack of role models for young people
During adolescence, adolescents enter a critical stage of identity development character-
ized by de-idealisation of parents and movement toward autonomy or individualization
[12]. Erikson (1968) considered that distant figures (celebrities) play a transitional role in
adolescence [10]. When teenagers begin to construct their autonomous selves and
participate in identity formation, the parasocial process with celebrities may provide
identities for consideration and help individuals develop their perspectives [13]. Media
figures also provide various examples of possible selves for young people to have a try.

Factors of Celebrity Worship

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Factors of Celebrity Worship

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Factors of Celebrity Worship

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Influencing Factors of Celebrity Worship

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.