Is Celebrity Culture Good for Our Mental Health? (No.)

We all know celebrity culture is a little ridiculous… but have you ever stopped to ask why we’re so drawn to it? Why we admire celebrities, follow their lives, and sometimes even love to hate them?

In this episode, in the wake of the Oscars and "awards season" in general, I explore the deeper psychology behind our fascination with the "rich and famous" — why human beings have always looked “up” to gods, heroes, and icons, and how that same instinct is playing out today in celebrity culture.

The problem? The people we elevate shape what we believe is possible and even who we are—and when those models are built on illusion rather than substance, it subtly impacts our identity, our attention, and our mental health. This is an episode about modeling, meaning, and the question we’re all answering, whether we realize it or not: who is worthy of our attention?

To send me an email with show ideas or requests: contact@vanessabentley.co

Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/vanessathetherapist/

The original Bobo Doll experiment (in full): https://youtu.be/dmBqwWlJg8U?si=S6hY1d1oldSkCOBX