A study of American college students found that those who often think about and search for information about famous people, and those who are easily bored, were more likely to engage in stalking. People who admire celebrities primarily for their entertainment abilities are less likely to engage in celebrity stalking.The study was published in the journal pro swan.
Stalking is a pattern of unwanted, compulsive behavior in which someone repeatedly harasses, follows, or watches someone, causing them to feel fear, distress, or a threat to their safety. This may include physically following someone, sending unwanted messages or gifts, making unwanted phone calls, or monitoring someone’s online activities or physical location.
Legally, stalking is classified as a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the severity of the act and the presence of aggravating factors (such as possession of a weapon, threats, or if the victim is a minor). Still, it is estimated that 1.7 million people are stalked each year in the United States alone.
Celebrity stalking is a specific form of stalking where the target is a public figure or celebrity. Celebrities’ celebrity status makes them vulnerable to stalking by fans and individuals who develop intense, often paranoid, attachments to them. Celebrity stalkers do everything they can to get close to their targets, including showing up uninvited at their homes or workplaces, attempting to make direct contact with them, and using social media to track their targets’ movements. You may.
The effects of stalking on the celebrity being stalked can be severe. It can cause emotional distress, a sense of violation, and even physical harm to the celebrity and her loved ones.
Study author Maria M. Wong and colleagues argue that celebrity stalking can be attributed to a variety of stalkers, including thrill-seeking (given the legal risks of stalking) and a means of expressing anger (by threatening the celebrity). It is inferred that it has the potential to satisfy psychological needs. They conducted an online survey to investigate the predictability of celebrity stalking based on a set of behavioral trends and psychological traits.
The study involved 596 students with an average age of 20 years from three universities in Idaho and Georgia. 67% identified as female and 51% as white. Participation was offered as part of a research module or in exchange for additional credit in a psychology course.
Students assessed celebrity stalking (Unpleasant Fan Activity Scale – 18, Persistent Relationship Intrusion and Celebrity Stalking Scale), Attitudes toward Celebrities (Celebrity Attitudes Scale), Sensation Seeking (Brief Sensation Seeking Scale); Relationship attachment styles (Relationship Questionnaire), anger tendencies (Multidimensional Anger Inventory – Overview).
The results revealed that 64% of participants said they had never been stalked by a celebrity. Those who reported frequently having personal thoughts about celebrities, those who felt a need to know or consistently pursue more about them, and those who felt a desire to harm them. , and those who were easily bored were more likely to engage in celebrity stalking. When researchers controlled for these factors, they showed that people who admired celebrities almost exclusively for their ability to entertain were less likely to engage in celebrity stalking.
This study provides a valuable contribution to the scientific understanding of celebrity stalking. However, there are also limitations that need to be considered. Of note, the study design did not allow causal conclusions to be drawn from the data. Additionally, all study participants were college students, and it is likely that few, if any, actually engaged in celebrity stalking. Results may not be the same for other demographics or age groups.
The paper, “Predicting Celebrity Stalking from Celebrity Relentless Pursuit and Intimidation, Sensation Seeking, and Celebrity Worship,” was written by Maria M. Wong, Lynn McCutcheon, Joshua S. Rodefer, and Kenneth Carter. Written by.
