Why are we fascinated by celebrities we’ve never met? What is the difference between fame and celebrity? How has social media enabled a new wave of celebrities? The Psychology of Celebrity explores the origins of celebrity culture, the relationships celebrities have with their fans, how fame can affect celebrities, and what shapes our thinking about celebrities we admire. The book also addresses the way in which the media has been and continues to be an outlet for celebrities, culminating in the role of social media, reality television, and technology in our modern society. Drawing on research featuring real life celebrities from the Kardashians to Michael Jackson, The Psychology of Celebrity shows us that celebrity influence can have both positive and negative outcomes and the impact these can have on our lives.

This thoroughly updated edition of the bestselling Psychology for A2 Level has been written specifically for the new AQA-A Psychology A2-level specification for teaching from September 2009. It is the ideal follow-up to AS Level Psychology, 4th edition by the same author, but also to any AS-level textbook. This full-colour book, which builds on the ideas and insights explored at AS Level to promote a deeper understanding of psychology, is written in an engaging and accessible style by a highly experienced author. It incorporates contributions, advice and feedback from a host of A-Level teachers and psychologists including Philip Banyard, Evie Bentley, Clare Charles, Diana Dwyer, Mark Griffiths and Craig Roberts. At this level, students select options from a range of specified topics and this book includes chapters on all of the compulsory and optional topics that are on the new A2 syllabus in sufficient depth for the requirements of the course. It has a new focus on the nature and scope of psychology as a science with an emphasis on how science works, and guidance on how to engage students in practical scientific research activities. Presented in a clear, reader-friendly layout, the book is packed with advice on exam technique, hints and tips to give students the best chance possible of achieving the highest grade. The book is supported by our comprehensive package of online student and teacher resources, A2 Psychology Online. Student resources feature a wealth of multimedia materials to bring the subject to life, including our new A2 revision guide and A2 Workbook, multiple choice quizzes, revision question tips, interactive exercises and podcasts by key figures in psychology. Teacher resources include a teaching plan, chapter-by-chapter lecture presentations, and classroom exercises and activities.

In contemporary society, the cult of celebrity is inescapable. Anyone can be turned into a celebrity, and anything can be made into a celebrity event. Celebrity has become a part of everyday life, a common reference point. But how have people like Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Bill Clinton or Princess Diana impressed themselves so powerfully on the public mind? Do they have unique qualities, or have their images been constructed by the media? And what of the dark side of celebrity – why is the hunger to be in the public eye so great that people are prepared to go to any lengths to achieve it, as numerous mass murderers and serial killers have done. Chris Rojek brings together celebrated figures from the arts, sports, politics and other public spheres, from O.J. Simpson and Marilyn Monroe to Hitler and David Bowie, and touches on many movements and fads, including punk, rock-and-roll and fashion. Rojek analyzes the difference between ascribed celebrity, which derives from bloodline, and achieved celebrity, which follows on from personal achievement - the difference between Princess Margaret and, say, Woody Allen. He also shows how there is no parallel in history to today's ubiquitous "living" form of celebrity, powered by newspapers, PR departments, magazines and electronic mass media.

Get the best grades with My Revision Notes: AQA (A) A2 Psychology. Manage your own revision with step-by-step support from senior examiner Jean-Marc LawtonUse research summaries and evaluation notes to improve your knowledge of key theories and studiesGet the top marks by demonstrating your understanding of the research methods psychologists useImprove your exam skills with self-testing and exam-style questions and answers My Revision Notes will help you prepare for the big day: Plan and pace your revision with My Revision PlannerUse the concise notes to revise the essential informationUse the examiner's tips and summaries to clarify key pointsAvoid making typical mistakes with expert adviceTest yourself with end-of-topic questions and answers and tick off each topic as you complete itPractise your exam skills on exam questions then check your answers onlineGet exam-ready with last-minute quick quizzes at www.therevisionbutton.co.uk/myrevisionnotes

The Psychology of Persuasion: Understanding Influence and Decision-Making by Sloane Montgomery delves into the heart of human interaction—persuasion and influence. Why do people change their minds? What makes someone alter their behavior or beliefs? Montgomery takes readers on an illuminating journey through the psychological processes that drive persuasion, revealing the underlying mechanisms of decision-making. This book offers a thorough exploration of how we influence others and are influenced in return, whether in one-on-one interactions or within larger social contexts. From the subtleties of compliance and conformity to the dynamics of leadership and group behavior, The Psychology of Persuasion covers it all. Montgomery’s insights will leave you with a deeper understanding of how persuasion works and why it is such a powerful tool in shaping human behavior. Whether you're interested in psychology, communication, or simply want to improve your persuasive skills, this book is an essential read.

This short book by Professor Brett Kahr provides a psychoanalytic understanding of fame and celebrity in the early twenty-first century, building upon the bedrock foundations of the Freudian corpus. The book is divided into six chapters. Chapter One explores the psychology of the celebrity, questioning narcissistic and exhibitionist psychopathology, while Chapter Two examines the psychological state of those of who revel in the fame of others and in celebrity culture more broadly, and offers a discussion of the "Celebrity Worship Syndrome". Chapter Three provides a very brief history of the concept of celebrity itself, arguing that, contrary to popular opinion, the culture of celebrification cannot be blamed on twenty-first-century media moguls, but, rather, that such a preoccupation with famous personalities can be traced back to ancient times and demonstrates the need to broaden our analysis to include the role of deep, unconscious psychological forces. In Chapter Four, Kahr reviews some important theoretical concepts advanced by Freud and Winnicott, which provide an important foundation for the psychoanalytic study of fame, while Chapter Five provides a more comprehensive theory of the unconscious psychological roots of the need to worship fame and to seek it, drawing upon a multitude of sources, ranging from psychoanalytic theory and developmental psychological research, to film, archaeology, and, perhaps surprisingly, the history of infanticide. The book concludes, in Chapter Six, by studying the psychodynamics of celebrity and fame, arguing that being recognised by one’s family and friends in the intimate context of home life may well be the very best way to become a celebrity. Celebrity Mad outlines a psychoanalytic theory of the roots of our obsession with fame. It will be of great interest to psychoanalytic practitioners and researchers, as well as to readers interested in the psychology of fame.

The historical and cultural context of fame in the twenty-first century Today, celebrity culture is an inescapable part of our media landscape and our everyday lives. This was not always the case. Over the past century, media technologies have increasingly expanded the production and proliferation of fame. Celebrity explores this revolution and its often under-estimated impact on American culture. Using numerous precedent-setting examples spanning more than one hundred years of media history, Douglas and McDonnell trace the dynamic relationship between celebrity and the technologies of mass communication that have shaped the nature of fame in the United States. Revealing how televised music fanned a worldwide phenomenon called “Beatlemania” and how Kim Kardashian broke the internet, Douglas and McDonnell also show how the media has shaped both the lives of the famous and the nature of the spotlight itself. Celebrity examines the production, circulation, and effects of celebrity culture to consider the impact of stars from Shirley Temple to Muhammad Ali to the homegrown star made possible by your Instagram feed. It maps ever-evolving media technologies as they adeptly interweave the lives of the rich and famous into ours: from newspapers and photography in the nineteenth century, to the twentieth century’s radio, cinema, and television, up to the revolutionary impact of the internet and social media. Today, mass media relies upon an ever-changing cast of celebrities to grab our attention and money, and new stars are conquering new platforms to build their adoring audiences and enhance their images. In the era of YouTube, Snapchat, and reality television, fame may be fleeting, but its impact on society is profound and lasting.

Companion to Celebrity presents a multi-disciplinary collection of original essays that explore myriad issues relating to the origins, evolution, and current trends in the field of celebrity studies. Offers a detailed, systematic, and clear presentation of all aspects of celebrity studies, with a structure that carefully build its enquiry Draws on the latest scholarly developments in celebrity analyses Presents new and provocative ways of exploring celebrity’s meanings and textures Considers the revolutionary ways in which new social media have impacted on the production and consumption of celebrity

Through studies of such writers as Hawthorne, Melville, and Stowe, this book shows how the increased demand for salable entertainment fostered a new consciousness of authorship as a commercial and professional mode of work in the first half of the nineteenth century in America.

The Psychology of the Selfie provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of research on the significance of selfies, offering insights into the topic from a psychological perspective and examining important issues such as body image, self-objectification, mental health and psychological benefits. Selfies are a worldwide phenomenon. Although dismissed by critics as a sign of self-absorbed narcissism, they are also a social currency that maintains and reinforces friendships, a feedback loop for self-identity affirmation, a promotional tool for gaining social influence, and a method for preserving memories of life events. In this book, Barrie Gunter expertly explores the psychological underpinnings of the contemporary global phenomenon of "selfies", from the historical roots and meteoric rise due to technical advancements, to the different personality types of selfie-takers, to social relationships, to group and personal identity. Looking at both the psychological nature and impact of selfies, this book reviews different psychological outcomes for selfie-takers, both positive and negative, and the growth in psychological and physical problems that can sometimes arise. Presenting a comprehensive analysis specifically of selfie behaviour, this book is an essential reference for students and researchers in communications and media, journalism, information studies, psychology and sociology, as well as anyone with a general interest in the phenomenon.