Neue Studie verbindet die Promi -Anbetung mit Narzissmus, Materialismus und wahrgenommener Ähnlichkeit. Menschen, die Prominente stark bewundern, neigen dazu, sowohl in materialistischen Werten als auch in narzisstischen Merkmalen höher zu erzielen – insbesondere in einer unsichereren und emotional sensibleren Form des Narzissmus.

I’ve linked to the news release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijop.70067

From the linked article:

**New study links celebrity worship to narcissism, materialism, and perceived similarity**

A new study published in the International Journal of Psychology has found that **people who strongly admire celebrities tend to score higher in both materialistic values and narcissistic traits—particularly a more insecure and emotionally sensitive form of narcissism**. The study also found that people who see themselves as similar to their favorite celebrity are more likely to have these attitudes. Among all the factors examined, feeling similar to a celebrity was one of the strongest predictors of celebrity worship.

The results showed a consistent relationship between celebrity worship and materialism. People who scored higher on celebrity worship also tended to place greater importance on money, status, and possessions. This was especially true for those who reported more intense or obsessive admiration for celebrities. The researchers noted that this connection aligns with past findings and suggests that people may turn to both celebrity culture and materialism as ways to cope with emotional insecurity or low self-worth.

When it came to narcissism, the findings were more nuanced. Only the vulnerable form of narcissism was significantly related to celebrity worship. People with higher levels of emotional insecurity and self-focus were more likely to feel strongly connected to celebrities. Grandiose narcissism, which is associated with charm and assertiveness, did not show a significant relationship with celebrity admiration in this sample. This contrasts with some earlier studies but matches other recent work suggesting that vulnerable narcissism may be more relevant to parasocial attachments.

Both types of narcissism were linked to materialism, although in different ways. People with grandiose traits were more likely to value possessions for the status and prestige they bring, while those with vulnerable traits showed stronger associations with using material goods to feel happier or more secure. The researchers pointed out that although the motivations may differ, both forms of narcissism appear to contribute to a focus on acquiring possessions.

One of the most important findings from the study was the role of perceived similarity to celebrities. Participants who believed they were like their favorite celebrity—whether in appearance, behavior, or personality—were more likely to score higher on measures of celebrity worship. This connection held even when controlling for materialism and narcissism. In fact, perceived similarity emerged as one of the strongest predictors of celebrity worship overall. It also had a modest relationship with materialism, especially when participants believed their similarities were related to success or status.

These findings support earlier research suggesting that people often imitate celebrities they admire or believe they resemble. For instance, past studies have found that fans of performers like Elvis Presley not only adopted his style and values but also reported feeling deeply connected to his identity.

It’s definitely an illness, which celebrities and their promoters happily encourage. It’s sick.