Celebrity worship, addiction and criminality

Abstract

Two studies assessed the relationship between celebrity worship and (i) addiction (n 01359) and (ii)

FANatics: Systematic literature review of factors associated with celebrity worship, and suggested directions for future research

“…In the same study, celebrity interest for self-expansion reasons correlated positively with positive affect, while celebrity interest for self-suppression reasons correlated positively with negative affect. Sheridan et al (2007) found that scores on the CAS positively correlated with a measure of addiction, though after Bonferroni adjustments, addiction scores correlated significantly with only one factor, which was the 'deleterious imitation' aspect of the CAS. Chia and Poo (2009) found that the entertainment-social aspect of CW was positively associated with life satisfaction, and Maltby and Day (2011) found no significant relationship between CW and satisfaction with life.…”

“…Reeves et al (2012) found that CW was positively related to compulsive buying, with the relationship between borderline-pathological CW and compulsive buying particularly strong. Sheridan et al (2007) found that all four aspects of CW they identified (entertainment-social, intensepersonal, deleterious imitation, and a mixed component including 'infatuation' items as well as other items scattered across the initial subscales) correlated significantly and positively with criminality. found no significant relationship between CW towards musicians and listening to 'deviant' music styles.…”

“…A fourth factor of the CAS has also been suggested -'deleterious imitation', referring to willingness of fans to imitate licentious behaviour of their favourite celebrity. This concept was introduced by Hargreaves (2005, 2006) and two studies have suggested this may be an additional factor of the CAS Sheridan et al 2007). However, the majority of studies using the CAS have focused on the entertainment-social, intense-personal and borderlinepathological levels of CW as it is these three dimensions which most frequently emerge from factor analysis.…”

"Firing the pigskin real right"

“…This study of the media's representations of the sport-celebrity couple of Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo acknowledged, through illumination of the previous research on this topic and with expansion of literature on the sporting wife (Clayton & Harris, 2004;Forsyth & Thompson, 2007;Gmelch & San Antonio, 2001;McKenzie, 1999;Powers;Thompson, 1999;Whannel, 2001), the practical consequences for use in social and behavioral sciences. The increasing interest in the popular-culture celebrity phenomenon entices all facets of society to mimic their celebrity counterparts Boon & Lomore, 2001;Cheung & Yue, 2003;Jenkins, 1992;Maltby et al, 2003;Maltby et al, 2001;McCutcheon, 2002;North & Hargreaves, 2006;Phillips, 1974;Rustad et al, 2003;Sheridan, North, Maltby & Gillett, 2007). This study, however, placed more importance on how the media interprets these relationships, either by vilifying and victimizing them, rather than looking at the public's fascination with celebrity.…”

“…Whether there is a great divide in the media's overall representation of both Simpson and Romo, the evidence of the social obsession, via the mass media's construction, has illustrated that the space between the celebrity universe and collective society is rapidly narrowing Boon & Lomore, 2001;Cheung & Yue, 2003;Jenkins, 1992;Maltby, Houran, & McCutcheon, 2003;Maltby, McCutcheon, Ashe, & Houran, 2001;McCutcheon, 2002;North & Hargreaves, 2006;Phillips, 1974;Rustad, Small, Jobes, Safer, & Peterson, 2003;Sheridan, North, Maltby & Gillett, 2007). Contemporary celebrity "is ubiquitous, and possesses elan vital [vital impetus] for a ravenous public audience.…”