What Is the Psychology of Celebrity Fandoms?
A.R.M.Y, BeyHive or Beliebers, we are surrounded by fandoms. But why are people part of them?
We've all expressed our admiration for certain celebrities at some point in our lives. At the same time, we have encountered people who are obsessed with a celebrity, either in person or virtually. They defend the celebrity's actions, celebrate their victories, and lament their losses. These are your super fans.
In recent years, there has been an increase in both positive and negative conversations about fandom. Fandoms are much more than avenues of self-expression. Through this article, we will examine fandom and its impact on one’s identity and mental health.
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What Are Fandoms?
The term fan is derived from the term fanatic, which implies a negative connotation. It was used to describe people who were passionate about sports. Over time, the term has come to refer to people who have a strong interest in anything related to popular culture. Fandom is the term used to describe a community of fans.
Fandoms are not only about rooting for a celebrity; they are also a source of social awareness. Members of the A.R.M.Y, who are fans of the hugely popular K-pop group BTS were successful in raising 1 million dollars for Black Lives Matter to match the group’s donation to the cause. This form of civic engagement is known as fan activism.
Some fans believe that fandoms foster a culture of respect for all their members. As a result, fans are more likely to advocate for causes that are important to other members of the community, such as the LGBTQIA+ and Black Lives Matter movements.
Can Fandoms Shape Relationships and Your Identity?
When segmented by age, the youth make up the majority of fans. As teens and young adults, they are attempting to forge an identity and a place for themselves. During this stage of their lives, they look up to celebrities as role models.
They form an emotional bond with their idol while also admiring and connecting with their sense of style or creativity. This admiration can be highly beneficial in the development of their identity.
During this time, teenagers worry about intimacy. As a result, some of them resort to developing feelings of attachment to celebrities. Social media platforms contribute to this by promoting themselves as a place where fans can get to know their idols without filters, giving the illusion of intimacy.
This can result in the development of parasocial relationships. This term refers to a one-sided relationship between an individual and a media personality. The fan develops a strong attachment to the celebrity in this type of relationship, but their feelings are not reciprocated.
Although this may appear to be a concern, psychologists believe that it is normal and healthy for us to form such relationships. As social animals, we thrive on making connections with others, and when we see someone on social media or television, we try to create a bond with them.
A point to note about parasocial relationships is that the fans are aware that their interaction is an illusion, but due to their perception, they tend to respond and react to it as if it were real.
Aside from fostering a strong emotional bond with a celebrity, fandoms nurture a sense of community among its members. Although fandoms are not an organised group, research shows that fans believe they are a part of one.
Each fan community refers to and identifies itself with a unique, self-created name as a means of establishing the group. Examples of fandom names along with the names of their celebrity idol include Blink (Black Pink), Directioners (One Direction), and Swifties (Taylor Swift). These names help to define the fandom as "we and us," as well as distinguish them from other groups as "them."
It further encourages fans to derive their social identity from their group membership. They feel a sense of belonging and acceptance as members of the fan community. Creating a sense of “we-ness” helps fans create strong bonds with one another and pursue the integration of other like-minded individuals into the group.
Do Fandoms Affect Mental Health?
In this day and age, the internet has become a gathering place for fandoms and fan communities to connect with one another. Fans discuss and share their thoughts on the celebrity's activities, future ventures, and images on various Facebook groups, Reddit, and Instagram pages. This causes them to interact with other fans who share their admiration for the celebrity, and as a result, they form social relationships.
As we approach the third year of the pandemic, it has become increasingly, it has become increasingly difficult to be optimistic about the future. These online platforms then serve as a space for fans to express their excitement for the next endeavour involving their idol. This could be a new film, album or single. The anticipation of something good in the future, releases dopamine, resulting in positive emotions which promote mental health.
However, fandom is not all roses. Over the last few years, we have seen the rise of “stans” or stalker fans. These fans are obsessed and overly enthusiastic about the celebrity they support. They blindly follow their idol, defend their interests and do not distinguish between right and wrong. These fans quickly defend the celebrity they support and fight anyone who indicates otherwise.
This type of celebrity adoration, on the other hand, is unhealthy. This is also supported by research which shows that fans who score higher on celebrity-worship scales exhibit characteristics such as stalking, addictive tendencies and narcissism.
We can escape the monotony of everyday life by engaging in pop culture. Making emotional connections with celebrities, as discussed in this article, can aid in enhancing our identity and forming a community. Although fandoms have negative aspects, they are the modern version of what we naturally do: find a place where we belong and form social connections as we go.
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