Study Shows Link Between Obsession with Celebrities and Lower Cognitive Test Scores
A study involving over a thousand people highlights an association between high levels of obsession with celebrities’ lives and lower cognitive test scores. However, it remains difficult to determine whether this fascination with cultural icons is a cause or a consequence of these reduced skills.
Nearly twenty years of research have produced mixed results on the relationship between celebrity worship and cognitive skills. Some studies suggest that cognitive performance tends to decline with higher levels of celebrity worship. On the other hand, other studies have found no association between these constructs.
In a study published in the journal BMC Psychology, a team aimed to expand on previous work in this area. They applied Cattell’s theory of intelligence in a sample of Hungarian adults.
A Clear Association
For this study, researchers recruited 1,763 people (about two-thirds men, one-third women) for an online survey. They all completed two intelligence subtests designed to measure vocabulary skills (vocabulary test) and numerical symbol skills (short digit symbol test). Participants also answered questions to assess their self-esteem on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and their attitude towards celebrities on the Celebrity Attitude Scale to determine their level of obsession with celebrities.
Researchers identified three levels of obsession. The “social entertainment” level involved those whose interest in stars was limited to discussing their lives with friends. The second level, “intense-personal,” involved compulsive reflection on celebrities, while the third level, “pathological limit,” involved people willing to do anything if their favorite celebrities asked.
Additionally, data on subjective material wealth, current family income, and general sociodemographic data were also collected.
After analyzing the results, there appears to be a direct association between celebrity worship and poorer performance on cognitive tests that cannot be explained by demographic and socioeconomic factors.
However, it remains difficult to precisely explain. The authors suggest that the obsession with celebrities could hinder cognitive abilities due to the intense level of concentration and attention required to maintain this “unilateral emotional bond.” Individuals with higher intelligence levels may also be less likely to idolize celebrities due to a greater ability to recognize the “marketing strategies” used to glorify these characters.
