the attraction of celebrity

Question 1

what are the two explanations for the attraction to celebrity ?

Answer 1

social-psychological and evolutionary.

Question 2

what is a social-psychological explanation ?

Answer 2

When a person feels as if they have an interpersonal relationship with a celebrity, this is referred to
as a parasocial relationship.

Question 3

who supported the idea of para social relationships ?

Answer 3

Schiappa et al. (2007): meta-analysis found that people were more likely to engage in parasocial
relationships with TV characters if they perceived them as attractive, similar to themselves, and if
they seemed real.

Question 4

what does the absorption-addiction model suggest ?

Answer 4

-McCutcheon -> most people never go beyond admiring celebrities this is because of their entertaining and social values. the motivation forces driving the absorption may become addictive.
-three stages: entertainment-social
intense personal
borderline-pathological

Question 5

evaluation ?

Answer 5

Schiappa - common belief is parasocial relationships are dysfunctional however there is no evidence.

• links to attachment theory
• links with eating disorders (maltby)

Question 6

evolutionary explanations theory ?

Answer 6

attraction to creative individuals -Human beings have a natural desire and love for novelty, known as neophilia. Before modern media,
the main form of entertainment for our ancestors involved direct interactions with one another.
Neophilia led to ever-more creative displays from potential mates, such as music, art, and humour,
where individuals who were most creative were considered the most attractive. In recent times,
people are repeatedly exposed by the media to celebrity displays of creative characteristics and due
to neophilia people then become attracted to celebrities.

Question 7

support for attraction to creative individuals ?

Answer 7

Darwin (1871): female birds are attracted to males who display the most complex and creative
songs, indicating the importance of neophilia for attraction in non-human animals.

Question 8

evaluation ?

Answer 8

Shirashi - suggests that there may be a genetic origin for neophilia
-Enzyme (MAOA) correlated with novelty seeking tendencies.