The Science Behind Celebrity Worship

Whether it’s a popular athlete or the actor who plays your favorite superhero, there are bound to be thousands of adoring fans who love that celebrity as much as you do. Social media personalities, singers, artists, and comedians all develop deep fanbases, sometimes reaching around the entire world. When those fan bases develop, there are sure to be a few fans who stand out for truly bizarre behavior. What is it that makes celebrities so appealing? Why do so many people closely follow the details of celebrity lives?

Celebrity Worship Syndrome

Before delving into some of the science about this fascination with celebrities, consider some stories about the lengths that fans have gone to indulge in their love of a favorite idol. A man in the Philippines underwent several surgical procedures to change his features to resemble Christopher Reeves in his role as Superman. A 16-year-old girl in New Zealand spent hundreds of dollars to buy a water bottle from which Justin Bieber took a sip. Another fan actually broke her own leg because her idol had a broken foot. Sadly, this extent of behaviors has a name from psychologists: Celebrity Worship Syndrome.

The Halo Effect

Scientists have some suggestions about why this happens. For many people, the fascination simply stems from an appreciation for a celebrity’s excellence. For example, athletes who are very good at performing in their area naturally attract admiration. After that, the positive feelings overlap into perceptions of the rest of the celebrity’s life. This is known as the halo effect. This effect applies to all kinds of people, and it offers a good explanation for the allure that celebrities often have over their fans.

Terror Management Theory

Another idea about celebrity worship has to do with Terror Management Theory. This idea suggests that people are generally afraid of dying and they “manage” their terror of dying by looking for ways to give their lives meaning. Some social scientists believe that the love of celebrities stems from their ties to culture and a worldview. By worshipping a celebrity, people feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves, and that helps them cheat death in a way.

The Public Pedestal

In an interesting twist, sometimes fans believe that by putting celebrities on a pedestal, they become public and personal property. For example, imagine your favorite actor. Have you read articles about him or her? Maybe you’ve done a few internet searches into the childhood and family life. It’s easy to find all types of information, take a peek at this celebrity salary quiz, for example. By elevating a well-known person to celebrity status, people feel they have the right to peer into the intimate details of that person’s life.

Look for Your Own Hometown Heroes

It’s easy to forget that the dreamy actor on the big screen is a person just like you. Sometimes, the media surrounding celebrities makes them seem larger than life, but if you take a moment to really think about it, most of those men and women are just trying to do their jobs providing entertainment. If you really want to choose an idol; look closer to home. There’s sure to be someone in your immediate life with achievements and actions worthy of your admiration.