Are celebrities bad for you?

What's wrong with enjoying a bit of celebrity gossip? It doesn't do us any harm ... or does it? Read the article to find out if celebrities really are bad for you.

Instructions

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Reading

Are celebrities bad for you?

Celebrities are everywhere nowadays: on TV, in magazines, online. Is this preoccupation with famous people harmless fun or is it bad for us? How many people are truly obsessed with modern media idols? And on the other side of the coin, can fame be harmful to the celebrities?

Studies suggest that the vast majority of teenagers do not really worship celebrities. Researchers have identified three kinds of fans. About 15% of young people have an ‘entertainment-social’ interest. They love chatting about their favourite celebrities with friends and this does not appear to do any harm.

Another 5% feel that they have an ‘intense-personal’ relationship with a celebrity. Sometimes they see them as their soulmate and find that they are often thinking about them, even when they don’t want to. These people are more at risk from depression and anxiety. If girls in this group idolise a female star with a body they consider to be perfect, they are more likely to be unhappy with their own bodies.

That leaves 2% of young people with a ‘borderline-pathological’ interest. They might say, for example, they would spend several thousand pounds on a paper plate the celebrity had used, or that they would do something illegal if the celebrity asked them to. These people are in most danger of being seriously disturbed.

What about the celebrities themselves? A study in the USA tried to measure narcissism or extreme self-centredness, when feelings of worthlessness and invisibility are compensated for by turning into the opposite: excessive showing off. Researchers looked at 200 celebrities, 200 young adults with Masters in Business Administration (a group known for being narcissistic) and a nationally representative sample using the same questionnaire. As was expected, the celebrities were significantly more narcissistic than the MBAs and both groups were a lot more narcissistic than the general population.

Four kinds of celebrity were included in the sample. The most narcissistic were the ones who had become famous through reality TV shows – they scored highest on vanity and willingness to exploit other people. Next came comedians, who scored highest on exhibitionism and feelings of superiority. Then came actors, and the least narcissistic were musicians. One interesting result was that there was no connection between narcissism and the length of time the celebrity had been famous. This means that becoming famous probably did not make the celebrities narcissistic – they already were beforehand.

So, what can we learn from this? People who are very successful or famous tend to be narcissists and are liable to be ruthless, self-seeking workaholics. As we can see from celebrity magazines, they are also often desperate and lonely. They make disastrous role models.

Discussion

Do you agree that celebrities make disastrous role models? Which celebrities do you think are good role models?

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Comments

Submitted by Monity on Wed, 04/03/2019 - 10:42

Not all the celebraties are standing in the same zone.they have regardless inclination irrepectively...we can't hoot every one because some of them r really holding amiability...influential celebraties are helping the destitute by creating charity.so we should follow only those who are worthy of fame in the true sense of the term.

Submitted by Mihael on Thu, 02/21/2019 - 15:34

I agree with that statement, most of them are disastours role model, bad entertain, and bad manners for sure. In my opinion there are still good role model for celebrities, I dunno actually bcs I seldom watch TV program but I guess Yon-Sama. If you know him, an korean actor :)

Submitted by ihavenolife on Tue, 02/19/2019 - 12:47

i really liked this text about celebrities my favorite celebretie rapper sjors i really liike his song and i hope he is making new songs soon.
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Submitted by Youjiro on Thu, 02/07/2019 - 07:38

I'm inspired from some celebrities such as Eminem,mad Demon and jet lee. They are attract us whenever I watch Film or TV. But some celebrities ridiculous. They wants to make media attention from what they do.Some celebrities over rated.They are lucky because They are related rich family.They have not talent .I have jealous to some celebrities .I want to live in big house .I want to learn high salary.Celebrities have huge money.
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Submitted by Ken on Sat, 02/24/2018 - 10:02

A demon loves narcissists.... Wow, I feel scared but I can hoot them with laughter......! Beyond all things, with Anpanman is around, we don't give a hoot! Y^Y^Y^ Y^Y^Y^Y^Y

Submitted by SilverAn on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 19:52

I´m not really interested on celebrities. My personal opinion is that It is weird to be obsessed with a celebrity besides It is really a problem for your psychological health. We must do things prudently. Do not cross the line.
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