Pathological public figure preoccupation: Its relationship with dissociation and absorption

This paper introduces the Public Figure Preoccupation Inventory (PFPI), bridging the theoretical and empirical gap between ‘everyday’ celebrity worship and unhealthy preoccupation with a celebrity or other public figure. In Study 1, 1162 respondents completed the 50-item PFPI, where items relate to attitudes and behaviours towards a favourite celebrity. Based on factor analytic techniques a model of public figure preoccupation was devised. In a second study (N = 215), the new model was then compared to disassociation and absorption scores to provide a greater clinical understanding of public figure preoccupation and its psychological correlates.