Celebrity and Entertainment Obsession

Celebrity culture surrounds us. We are inundated with information about actors and actresses, athletes, musicians, and others who have become famous or infamous. Although we never will likely meet or get to know them, our interest in them seems boundless. We are literally obsessed with being entertained as well as with the people who entertain us.Who our celebrities are has also shifted; in the past, celebrity status was bestowed on men and women of great accomplishment, those who had given the world something to be proud of and to celebrate. Conversely, today’s celebrities are generally people involved in entertainment—from TV newscasters to people who appear on reality television programs, as well as some who are simply famous for being famous. What remains an enigma is why we, as a society, are so infatuated with being entertained, as well as with those who entertain us and appear in the media. This book makes sense of this spectacle by explaining the reasons for this obsession from a psychological, social, and historical perspective. It suggests that we have become addicted in much the same way that a person becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol. Finally, the author offers his observations on how to free our minds from this captivation. Anyone interested in understanding more about our need to live vicariously through the rich and famous will find answers in this book.

“Highly recommended book for those interested in understand the effects of celebrities on human behavior. Celebrities may feed narcissistic tendencies that have been increasing over the past few decades.”

Clinical psychologist Michael Levy provides a psychological perspective of celebrity and entertainment obsession. In the first section, he details personality factors that may contribute to celebrity obsession: e.g., need to be entertained, admiration of physical attractiveness, need to belong, vulnerability to addiction, need for idols, and lack of self-esteem. In the second section, he highlights aspects of the cultural environment that promote and afford celebrity obsession, including greater isolation and decline of close-knit communities, a shift in life-fulfillment activities from work to leisure, and expansion of technology and mass media. And in the third section, Levy weaves these various components together, further expounding on connections—e.g., formation of para-social relationships to fill a growing isolation, idolization as a means of reflecting ideal selves, and downward social comparisons to enhance self-esteem. The work is unique and written for a broad audience; psychologists will find useful ideas for future research and application. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers. CHOICE
Sounds like a very interesting read and a lot of people could probably do well by reading it. Urban Update: 7News Boston WHDH-TV
It's a fantastic topic! Interesting topic to discuss. The Morning Blend: Today's TMJ4
Although celebrity and entertainment obsession seems to take many forms, it has not been highly researched or written about extensively. This book offers the perspectives of a clinical psychologist through his personal observations and to a lesser extent, a strong theoretical framework with evidence support.... [S]elect mental health professionals may want to read the book to explore new territory. New England Psychologist
Highly recommended book for those interested in understanding the effects of celebrities on human behavior. Celebrities may feed narcissistic tendencies that have been increasing over the past few decades. -- Brad J. Bushman, professor of Communication and Psychology, The Ohio State University, USA; professor of Communication Science, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Michael Levy addresses an extremely important topic that affects everyone and especially our children. While the desire for fame is not a new phenomenon, in the 21st century, the celebrity culture is inescapable. Read this book if you want to understand why these people fascinate us, even when they accomplish very little. -- Yalda T. Uhls, PhD, author of Media Moms and Digital Dads; researcher with UCLA; director of Creative Partnerships at Common Sense Media

Michael S. Levy, PhD, is a psychologist who has worked in the substance use disorder treatment field for over 20 years.  He is the director of substance use services at North Shore Medical Center in Salem, Massachusetts, and is a lecturer in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.  He lives in Andover, Massachusetts.

Celebrity culture surrounds us. We are inundated with information about actors and actresses, athletes, musicians, and others who have become famous or infamous. Although we never will likely meet or get to know them, our interest in them seems boundless. We are literally obsessed with being entertained as well as with the people who entertain us. Who our celebrities are has also shifted; in the past, celebrity status was bestowed on men and women of great accomplishment, those who had given the world something to be proud of and to celebrate. Conversely, today's celebrities are generally people involved in entertainment-from TV newscasters to people who appear on reality television programs, as well as some who are simply famous for being famous. What remains an enigma is why we, as a society, are so infatuated with being entertained, as well as with those who entertain us and appear in the media. This book makes sense of this spectacle by explaining the reasons for this obsession from a psychological, social, and historical perspective. It suggests that we have become addicted in much the same way that a person becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol. Finally, the author offers his observations on how to free our minds from this captivation. Anyone interested in understanding more about our need to live vicariously through the rich and famous will find answers in this book.

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