People Obsessed With Celebrities Are Less Intelligent, Study Shows
People who worship celebrities and are obsessed with Hollywood gossip might not be as intelligent as those who don't share the same fixation, a study has suggested.
A Hungarian study published in BMC Psychology in 2021 claimed to have discovered a link between intense celebrity worship and lower cognitive performance.
Researchers had 1,763 Hungarian adults take a 30-word vocabulary test and a digit symbol substitution test.
Participants were asked to answer a "Celebrity Attitude Scale" questionnaire to assess their interest in celebrities.
Among the questions were whether they "often feel compelled to learn the personal habits of [their] favorite celebrity" and if they are "obsessed by details of [their] favorite celebrity's life."
Participants were also asked to answer "yes" or "no" to whether they would be willing to engage in illegal activities if requested by their idol.
Taylor Swift attends the 65th GRAMMY Awards on February 5, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Researchers said they found a direct association between high scores on the Celebrity Attitude Scale and poorer performance on cognitive tests measuring literacy and numeracy.
The study participants were also questioned about income, material wealth, and education levels for a more comprehensive analysis.
It remains unclear whether celebrity obsession is a cause or a consequence of lower cognitive function, prompting the need for further investigation.
The researchers told PsyPost in a January 2022 interview that additional studies were needed to determine if "the cognitive effort invested in maintaining the absorption in a favorite celebrity may interfere with the person's performance in tasks that require attention and other cognitive skills."
On the other hand, TikTok psychologist Dr. Nicola Thomas previously said in a video that being a fan of celebrities can have a positive impact on individuals' lives.
She pointed to studies indicating that being a dedicated fan, or "delulu," can enhance life satisfaction and provide a sense of meaning and community.
Thomas referenced a 2009 study, which suggested that adoration of celebrities could serve as a source of emotional support, relieving individuals from life stress and increasing overall life satisfaction.
In a second TikTok video, Thomas highlighted the positive effects of being a "delulu" fan in the realm of K-Pop, emphasizing the role of fandom communities in providing escapism and improving mental health.
She cited a paper that found "the commitments and attachments as part of the K-pop community give fans a greater sense of meaning and a greater sense of self."
