LU-MRRL Lecture Series: FANatics: Inside the Minds of Celebrity Worshippers

Some people exhibit extreme interest in celebrities to the point of being obsessed. Over the past 20 years, the incidence of "celebrity worship" has dramatically increased, coinciding with the popularity of social media. The implications of increases in celebrity worship are concerning, given research showing that it is associated with undesirable attitudes and behaviors, such as anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts, suicide attempts, excessive gambling, disordered eating, and difficulty maintaining intimate relationships. Dr. Mara Aruguete, professor of psychology at Lincoln University, will discuss her and other researchers' investigations of celebrity culture and its implications.