JAKARTA – Celebrity dramas always manage to steal the public’s attention. From the news of a broken love, the feud between fellow artists, to the behind-the-scenes issues of films or concerts, everything spreads quickly and is widely discussed. Even people who claim not to like gossip often know the details.
So why do gossip about celebrities feel much more interesting than gossip about ordinary people? According to psychologists, the answer is not as simple as curiosity alone.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), gossip is a conversation or communication about someone’s personal information that is often not necessarily true. The content can be sensational, but it does not always mean evil.
Gossip is actually a natural part of human social life. Psychologist David Ludden, PhD explains that gossip is not always a bad thing.
“Gossip is basically just sharing social information. Every time we talk about someone who is not in the place, it already includes gossip,” said Ludden, quoted from the Everyday Health page.
With gossip, humans learn to understand their social environment without having to experience everything themselves. We know who to trust, what situations are going on, and how to behave.
The main reason why celebrity gossip feels more tempting is because we feel we have a relationship with them, even if we’ve never met them in person. Psychologists call it a parasocial relationship.
“We build an imaginary relationship with public figures. We follow their life journeys, feel happy when they succeed, and feel emotionally close,” explained Ludden.
Through films, songs, interviews, and social media, celebrities are present in everyday life. As a result, news about them feels personal, as if talking about your own friends.
Unlike gossip about friends or colleagues, celebrity gossip is not at risk of damaging personal relationships. This is what makes it feel safe.
“Gossiping can strengthen social relationships. Celebrity gossip provides conversation material without immediate consequences for our social circle,” said psychologist Stephen Benning, PhD.
No wonder if artist gossip often becomes the opening topic of conversation, whether on the first date, hanging out, or at the office.
Celebrity gossip also serves as entertainment and an emotional escape. When life feels heavy, focusing on famous people’s dramas can be a fun distraction.
“When life feels exhausting, following celebrity gossip can be a way to calm down and get away from personal problems for a while,” explains psychotherapist Britt Frank.
Scrolling through celebrity news or social media gives the brain a break from the stress, if only temporarily.
Unbeknownst to some, they enjoy celebrity gossip because of schadenfreude, the satisfaction of seeing others suffer.
“Celebrity gossip is a relatively safe way to enjoy vicarious gratification,” Britt Frank said.
“This feels more acceptable than feeling happy about the difficulties of friends or family themselves,” he continued.
Because celebrities are considered to have perfect lives, seeing them in trouble can make people feel that their own lives are not too bad.
Although it seems trivial, celebrity gossip can have a real impact, especially in the era of social media. Negative comments, mass insults, and public pressure can affect the mental health of public figures.
“The barrage of attacks on social media can cause serious psychological impacts for celebrities,” said Benning.
Therefore, psychologists remind the importance of empathy. Celebrities are still ordinary people, only their lives are under the public spotlight.
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