«MORE THAN ANYTHING PEOPLE JUST WANT STARS»

Social psychologists have long agreed that humans evolved with the desire to worship and idolize those believed to be attractive and successful. This tendency gives humans the will to try to mimic success and improve their own lots in life. Evolutionary psychologists also agree that the best targets for gossip are familiar faces, as they help humans to sift through a large group, determine who can be relied upon, and decide whose lives are most important to track. In his book called "Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction," author Jake Halpern even mentions studies that say other animal groups admire their own celebrities. He cites one that revealed rhesus monkeys willing to give up their food just to ogle a dominant monkey. Other psychological explanations for celebrity news addiction are bountiful, but frequently occurring beliefs are that it has to do with issues of boredom, loneliness, identity confusion, and a dose of primal attraction.

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May 18 2009