Boundary functioning in celebrity worshippers

Abstract

We examined the hypothesis that celebrity worshippers possess a generally 'thin' boundary structure, as implied by the absorption–addiction model of celebrity worship. One hundred and forty seven traditional and nontraditional college students completed the Revised Transliminality Scale (unconscious–conscious boundaries), Hartmann's Boundary Questionnaire (measuring 12 types of boundaries), and the Celebrity Attitude Scale, which addresses Entertainment-Social, Intense-Personal, and Borderline-Pathological levels of celebrity worship. As predicted, total scores on the two measures of mental boundaries showed significant but low magnitude correlations with total scores on the Celebrity Attitude Scale. Standard multiple regression analyses revealed that attitudinal and behavioral components of the boundary construct as measured by the Hartmann instrument differentially predicted the three levels of celebrity worship and that each of these levels involved both 'thin' and 'thick' boundary functioning. Low levels appear to reflect sensation-seeking, openness to experience, and cognitive rigidity, while intermediate levels add to these traits with elements of identity diffusion. The most extreme levels showed trends similar to intermediate levels with the addition of poor interpersonal boundaries. This suggests that people at the highest level of celebrity worship want to socialize and bond with people but feel disconnected from the social milieu to which they belong or have access.