Distinguishing heroes from celebrities

Authors: North, Adrian C.¹; Bland, Victoria¹; Ellis, Nicky¹

Source: British Journal of Psychology, Volume 96, Number 1, February 2005 , pp. 39-52(14)

Publisher: British Psychological Society

Key:

- Free Content

- New Content

- Subscribed Content

- Free Trial Content

Abstract:

Although numerous studies have concerned both `greatness' and `celebrity worship,' little previous research has overtly investigated the psychological bases for distinguishing `heroes' from `celebrities'. Study 1 indicated that, in response to 13 attitudinal measures, participants' responses to heroes could be summarized in terms of emotional attachment, drive for affiliation, and ordinariness, whereas the corresponding factors for celebrities were drive for affiliation, disdain, and ordinariness. Study 2 investigated how certain individuals might come to be perceived as producing `great' outputs. Using a vignette, manipulations of `dead versus alive,' and `good conduct versus bad conduct' mediated perceptions of the emotional significance of a pop song. The results are used to generate some tentative theoretical explanations for the differences between heroism and celebrity.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1348/000712604X15473

Affiliations: 1: School of Psychology, University of Leicester, UK

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$24.40 plus tax Refund Policy