Affect and addiction in theCelebrity Rehabreality television show

A lethal imitation game? Exploring links among psychoactive substance use, self-harming behaviors and celebrity worship

“…However, it is also possible that popular culture delivered a detailed picture of the effect of drugs, allowing viewers to indirectly experience these effects without actually taking drugs ( Boothroyd, 2006 ). Shaw et al, 2010 , Oksanen, 2014 also emphasized that audiences are able to actively construct their own interpretations of the content they are exposed to, suggesting that viewers may not be that receptive for the modeling effect as was assumed earlier.…”

“…One possible explanation for the present results is that more recent media representations of celebrities with alcohol and drug problems have focused on the struggles and rehabilitation of these celebrities instead of promoting substance use ( Oksanen, 2012 ). Indeed, television shows such as Celebrity Rehab and Dr Drew provided viewers with a detailed picture of the long process of recovery ( Oksanen, 2014 ). Therefore, it is plausible that celebrity admirers became more reluctant to model such behaviors since they were exposed to the harmful consequences.…”

“…Recently, famous rock musicians, actors and fashion models having alcohol and drug problems have attracted considerable media attention ( Shaw, Whitehead, & Giles, 2010 ), suggesting that drug use has become part of the popular culture ( Manning, 2007 ). Indeed, celebrities who became notorious for their excessive alcohol and drug use (e.g., Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Robert Downey Jr.) have generated extensive media coverage ( Oksanen, 2014 , Shaw et al, 2010 ). Applying the social learning theory in the field of media effects, it has been proposed that the exposure to glamorous celebrities’ excesses may increase individuals’ interest in modeling these health-risk behaviors ( Bryant & Zillmann, 2002 ).…”

Celebrity enactments of addiction on Twitter

“…Celebrity encounters with addiction are a commonplace feature of traditional media and, more recently, social media (Beccaria et al, 2015; Hanukov, 2015; Tiger, 2015). Some scholars have addressed the framing of celebrity addiction in the media (Beccaria et al, 2015; Hanukov, 2015; Oksanen, 2014). Others have explored the construction of addiction itself on social media.…”