“IT'S CALLED GOSSIP AND OF COURSE IT'S AN OBSESSION OF MINE”

Celebrity worship syndrome grew out of the celebrity worship scale devised by US psychologist Jim Houran in 2003.
The scale, based on research involving 20,000 people, describes the level to which people can become obsessed with celebrities.The syndrome has three stages, according to Houran.The first is "a healthy interest (in celebrities) that is a form (of) escapism", but also has a social role because it encourages interaction around the water cooler.The second phase is addiction. Here, the sufferer can withdraw from reality and begin to find fulfillment in stories about their favourite celebrity rather than social interaction.The third stage borders on pathological. Obsessive behaviour and celebrity stalkers are found at the extreme end.

The Age