Relationship attachment and the behaviour of fans towards celebrities

This study examined psychological characteristics of fans associated with self-reported attempts to approach celebrities. Two hundred undergraduate students (100 male, 100 female) completed a questionnaire consisting of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire (Fraley, Waller, & Brennan, 2000) and a scale measuring frequency of self-reported attempts to contact a favourite celebrity. Multiple regression revealed a statistically significant positive association between attachment related anxiety, and a negative association between attachment related avoidance and the frequency of self reported approach behaviour towards a celebrity, which is consistent with a preoccupied attachment style. The implications of these findings for theories of stalking and harassment of celebrities are discussed.