The researchers found three main reasons why people seek fame:. The desire for an elite, high status lifestyle e. The desire to use fame to help others or make them proud e. Interestingly, the motivations were associated with different fundamental human needs. While narcissism and the need to belong were associated with multiple motivations, the need to relate to others was only associated with the prosocial motivation.
To look deeper into these motivations, the researchers also measured the frequency of fantasizing about fame, and the perceived realism of becoming famous.
They found that narcissistic folks focused on the recognition and elite status that fame offers, and believed future fame to be more realistic. In contrast, those with a heightened need to belong were attracted to all aspects of fame, except for a perceived belief in the realism of fame. For these folks, the central aspect of fame was fantasizing about fame and the imagined social worth fame would provide, perhaps providing these folks with a soothing escape from personal anxieties about social exclusion.
Nevertheless, it seems that both those scoring high in narcissism and a high need for belonging share a common need to be seen and valued on a large scale. Those scoring high in relatedness tended to score lower in narcissism and only showed an interest in prosocial fame. Therefore, it seems it's important to distinguish between the need to belong -- to feel positively and consistently connected to others-- and the need to relate.
Research shows that people with a high need for relatedness are not anxious about social exclusion, have a greater sense of security with their immediate social network, and are more confident that they are valued by others.
In turn, they tend to report a positive mood, vitality, and well-being. Scientifically studying the appeal of fame, and the underlying motives, can be fruitful. For instance, consider the study I mentioned earlier that found that fame for the sake of fame was the greatest desire among a group of preadolescents. The researchers noted that preoccupations with peer acceptance, which is a natural preoccupation among that age group, might make the social recognition that comes with fame all the more appealing.
Therefore, the intense desire for fame among preadolescents and teenagers can be put in a broader context, satisfying a fundamental human need. There are also links to creativity.
Finding happiness in oneself is something that is often easier said than done. With the stresses of daily life, finding peace can become somewhat of a struggle, which most people are often all too familiar with.
Even those who outwardly may appear to have the perfect life, and completely happy, are often battling demons. Although it might be hard, even some of the most inspiring and influential people have suffered from unhappiness and depression.
In her early years of fame, Jolie often spoke about her love life, her sexual life and her interest in other women. She openly spoke about her depression, and a few days before her marriage to Billy-Bob Thronton, nearly hired a hitman to kill her. Following this, she was sectioned under Californian law. However, a couple of years later she began to turn her image around, by becoming involved in the UNHCR, and adopting several abandoned children with her husband, Brad Pitt.
She has cited her happiness has come from finding true and genuine love, both with her husband and her children. She has also been quoted to finding solace in her work, often diving herself into her films and charity work.
Although her life may be charmed now, working as an active philanthropist, and has often lost yet regained her billionaire status of her generous donations to charity, J.
Living as a single mother, she was cramped into a tiny apartment following her divorce. She often recalls suffering from suicidal thoughts, and tried cognitive behavioral therapy. It was shortly after this that she began writing Harry Potter, and since found her happiness in writing.
She has often said that she would just get lost in her writing, and found it more effective than her behavioral therapy. Qualifications are not what makes your life.
Intrinsic goals are processed orientated and personal, therefore do not rely on time or an external stimulus. For example, the motivation to eat well to maintain good health is something that can be completed today, and every day. Therefore, some preliminary research is suggesting that extrinsic goals causes two cautionary secondary effects:. It seems to be the case then, that the story of fame and happiness is really a subset of a wider conversation about the relationship between all extrinsic goals and happiness, and the research thus far indicates these types of aims and desires may inhibit long-term happiness instead of assist it.
Fame is a fascinating topic to discuss, and as I said at the beginning, also one of the most difficult topics to study with true scientific rigour. The research that is available to us suggests that psychological distress in childhood could lead to the desire of fame, and that the yearning to be famous may be correlated to characteristics of those who are less happy.
We know that fame is an external and elusive goal, and thus comes under the bracket of an extrinsic goal. The science shows that these types of goals can be harmful to our mental and physical well-being.
However, research in this topic is extremely limited, and there has been no studies as of yet that look at the happiness levels of those who have become famous without a specific desire to, which is likely to have only occurred in the recent past due to the internet.
There has also been no large study where the participants are actual famous people, as they are a subset group of people who would be more difficult to study as we discussed at the beginning.
New Podcast Episode. How do you define success? I would define one as: Someone who has a significant number of the general public aware of their name, appearance and the nature of their work, such that they would be recognised in public if noticed. Therefore, they are hard to get in touch with and are likely to be less available to undertake assessments. The questionnaire method of assessing happiness is subjective, and for famous people it could be argued that their response will be more subjective than others, as they are aware that the results results are likely to be known by a large number of people.
The other form of assessment, measuring biomarkers, is a test we might assume famous individuals may be reluctant to conduct, for multiple reasons. So the question is, why? Why this burning desire for fame? Various answers have been given to date: Dr John Maltby have done extensive research to look into the motive behind fame.
Vulnerability — how much fame would help you overcome issues about yourself, how much it would make you feel good etc. Celebrity lifestyle — how much you want others to know your name, recognise you, how much you want to be rich and be on magazines etc. Altruistic — how much you want to be famous so you can provide better for your family, contribute to the wider community, become a good role model for others etc. Many people may crave fame for these reasons, but a couple things are also worth noting.
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