Celebrity Worship Syndrome – Why do people do it?

Jamie Foxx whose real name is Eric Marlon Bishop, recently became a hero after the news reported him to be quick on the scene to save the life of a 32 year old man whose car had flipped over & burst into flames after crashing outside of the actor’s home. The Hollywood star and comedian who was raised a strict Baptist by his grandmother, modestly shrugs off the act as something anyone can do for another human being.

Celebrity Worship Syndrome

Celebrities have become an integral part of our culture. They range from sporting heroes, musicians, singers & the stars of film and television. It’s difficult for a celebrity to step out in public without being recognised. The paparazzi follow them around to snap prize photographs of them. Magazines pump out loads of articles about Hollywood actors, and famous people’s lifestyles.

According to Psychology today, Celebrity Worship Syndrome is a real mental health issue that can be described as an obsessive addictive disorder where a person can become completely obsessed with a celebrity’s persona and all the details about their personal life. Famous people on television or on the big screen are the most common targets by obsessed fans according to police reports.

Studies that mostly have been carried out on adults in the UK by Dr Maltby and his team have shown a connection between those who have poor mental health. I.e. high anxiety, depression, high stress levels, increased illness & poorer body image. Of those tested, the teenagers aged between 14 – 16 resulted in studies finding a connection between those with a poor body image were more prone to worship celebrities.

Most people will read about their favourite celebrities but they don’t obsess.
It was thought that in prehistoric times, that people’s attention naturally gravitated to the individuals whose have succeeded in their society. Good hunters and elders in particular would receive easy recognition. Today there’s no need for hunting as a skill, we instead look for those who achieve fame and fortune. These are the people that modern society wants to emulate.

1 Corinthians 10:14
“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Sources

News.com – http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/jamie-foxx-saves-car-crash-victim-from-burning-vehicle/news-story/4564c23e71d2dc5e24d702feda26a1b1

psychology today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-excess/201307/celebrity-worship-syndromehttp://www.moviefone.com/2014/11/27/jamie-foxx-facts/

Image courtesy of: Georges Biard – Jamie Foxx in Paris at the French premiere of “Django unchained” http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
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