In the wake of Big Brother and The X Factor, we have all become overnight experts on the psychology of fame, having convinced ourselves that we understand the hidden motivations of would-be celebrities better than they do themselves. The lust for superstardom not only fills a void in a lonely life, but also serves as a vehicle through which participants may gratify their narcissistic, grandiose and exhibitionistic urges.
Celebrities also fulfil important functions for the audience – not only entertaining us, but serving as antidepressant tablets, ameliorating our woes, and as targets on to whom we can vent our spleen. Most audience members engage in a struggle between idolatry (whether as ticket purchasers, autograph hunters or cheering fans) and denigration (whispering insults, stalking, or worse). Mark David Chapman infamously asked John Lennon for his signature, and then, shortly thereafter, fired five shots at Lennon's body.
Perhaps our preoccupation with pop stars, actors and sporting heroes serves as a reminder that most human beings do not feel sufficiently recognised, appreciated or seen at a very basic level; and through celebrity worship we displace our own archaic yearning to be heard and known on to a small number of delegates whom we then savage for receiving the very adulation that we crave.
As a psychotherapist, I have become increasingly aware that celebrities often become tenuous substitutes for meaningful-attachment relationships. When our family and friends attend to our emotional needs, then perhaps our need for Ant and Dec in the Australian bush will become less pressing.
Professor Brett Kahr managesThe School Of Life's psychotherapy service. He is is Senior Clinical Research Fellow in Psychotherapy and Mental Health at the Centre for Child Mental Health in London. He is also a Visiting Clinician and Visiting Lecturer at the Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships, at the Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology in London, specialising in work with marital couples.
(Image: 'Blessed Art Thou' by Kate Kretz)
Interesting article Brett, especially about celebrities being substitutes to real relationships. I'm running an interactive project on celebrity worship if you'd care to contribute.. your-personal-jesus.blogspot.com
Posted by: Jonathan Minster | May 21, 2010 at 03:15 PM