Measurement and Correlates of Celebrity Culture Hate

• Published in: Psychology of popular media 2023-01, Vol.12 (1), p.10-19
• Main Authors: Shabahang, Reza, Aruguete, Mara S., Huynh, Ho Phi, Shim, Hyejin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Celebrities; Cross Cultural Differences; Fame; Female; Foreign Language Translation; Hate; Human; Humility; Intergroup Dynamics; Male; Materialism; Measurement; Social Dominance; Test Construction; Test Reliability; Test Validity; Threat; Victimization
• ISSN: 2689-6567; 2689-6575
• DOI: 10.1037/ppm0000369

People tend to love and hate celebrities. The emotion of hatred can occur at the interpersonal level (i.e., directed at one celebrity) or the intergroup level (hatred toward celebrity culture in general). We sought to investigate hatred toward celebrity culture in general. We developed and evaluated the psychometric properties of the Celebrity Culture Triangular Hate Scale in a cross-cultural sample (Iranian and American). In addition to examining the effects of age and gender on hatred for celebrity culture, we examined predictors of hating celebrity culture (materialism, humility, relative deprivation, threat, victimhood, and social dominance orientation). We assessed the intercultural similarities and differences in the expression of celebrity culture hate. Scores on the Celebrity Culture Triangular Hate Scale showed good reliability and validity in both Persian- and English-speaking participants. Moreover, as predicted, celebrity culture hate was significantly associated with a variety of psychological variables including humility, personal relative deprivation, and perceived victimhood and threat. The correlates of celebrity culture hate showed many similarities and few differences in American and Iranian samples. Hatred toward celebrities predicted celebrity bashing in both cultures. These results contribute to the understanding of celebrity hate as a global phenomenon. Public Policy Relevance StatementThe present research contributes to the literature on celebrity attitudes by introducing a new instrument to measure hatred for celebrity culture. The research demonstrated validity and reliability of scores in an Iranian and American sample. Correlates of hatred for celebrity culture (e.g., materialism, feelings of deprivation, celebrity bashing) were similar among Iranian and American participants, suggesting that celebrity hatred is a global phenomenon.