Celebrities are attractive due to their popularity, wealth and glamour therefore fans aspire to be like them. Therefore celebrity attraction can be explained through Social Learning theory (SLT). This proposes learning effects occur with celebrities acting as role model for us to observe and imitate their behaviour in the belief it will bring similar levels of attractiveness and success.
Parasocial relationships provide another explanation. These form outside a person's normal network of friends with the celebrity normally unaware of the person who has created this parasocial relationship. These relationships may be appealing to fans as they are low demand and people do not have the risk of criticism or rejection. Other explanations suggest frequent and repeated exposure to a celebrity causes them to become attractive and we find them comforting and trustworthy over time.
The Absorption-Addiction model suggests admiration can lead some to resort to more extreme behaviours to maintain satisfaction with their parasocial relationship. Giles et al identified 3 levels in this process: entertainment social; fans are attracted to celebrities because of their perceived ability to entertain us. Intense personal; this aspect reflects intensive and compulsive feelings about the celebrity. Borderline pathological; this is characterised by uncontrollable behaviours towards the celebrities.
Schippa et al found those who saw a celebrity as attractive and similar to themselves, were most likely to form parasocial relationships. Additionally, the celebrity had to appear real or believable to allow viewers to compare themselves to them in similar ways. This supports the idea of parasocial relationships forming and causing celebrity attraction as we are most likely to form normal relationships with those similar to us, therefore it is likely to be the same with celebrities. These findings were based on a meta-analysis which has the strength of using several studies as support for conclusions. Therefore may increase the reliability and validity of conclusions. However, it relies on the reliability of other research studies. Therefore this must be considered before we draw firm conclusive as to how parasocial relationships form and cause celebrity attraction.
Cole and Leets found those with anxious ambivalent attachments were most susceptible to developing parasocial relationships with celebrities. This attachment type is characterised by individuals concern that others will not return their desire for intimacy. Therefore they use celebrities to satisfy their need for closeness. Those with avoidant-attachment types were least likely to develop real life or parasocial relationships as they find intimate relationships difficult. This provides strength for the parasocial relationship explanation as individual differences are considered giving reliability to results as an individuals attachment type is expected to generalise across all relationships. Therefore is expected to reflect onto any parasocial relationships too.
Research may oversimplify social process which is an issue regarding a social psychological explanation. Individuals are not attracted to every celebrity similar to themselves and their is no single personal types that engages in celebrity admiration more so than another. Not all motivational processes are considered therefore this is a deterministic approach, as some may engage in following of celebrities through free will and choice
There are problems which can occur as a result of celebrity obsession for example individuals undertaking social comparison with celebrities, which is encouraged by the media e.g. such as materialism where people believe and pursue the idea that happiness can only be achieved through fame and fortune. Such pursuits may prevent people from achieving actual personal growth and happiness. Another problem is media portrays celebrities with perfect bodies and appearances. This may cause impressionable young people to try and copy such appearances. Seen to be encourages by the media through celebrity diets, which may lead to eating disorders.
Biological factors are also ignored, therefore creating a reductionist approach in determining attraction to celebrities, where a combination of both psychological and evolutionary explanations may be better suited. For example repeated exposure may cause celebrities to seem comforting and trustworthy. This may have had previous adaptive value highlighting an interaction of elements that may have caused attraction.
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