To Lead and To Follow: Celebrities as Role Models
by Tamara Gilkes
A 35-year-old is arrested after he refused to buckle his seatbelt on an American Airlines flight headed to Heathrow Airport in London. He apparently became belligerent and threatened the airline staff. In light of recent terrorism and general unrest, this event is somewhat unsettling. What makes it even more unsettling is that the man was a well-known musician, with a large fan base, and yet he still acted this way.
Earl Simmons, better known as the rapper DMX, has had trouble with the law before. He has been arrested for ramming an airport gate with his SUV at JFK Airport in 2004 and has violated his parole by driving with a suspended license at 104 mph in upstate New York. Of course, he is not the only musician who has had trouble with following rules and regulations. Some musicians get completely banished from entire countries.
Snoop Dogg, or Calvin Broadus, also had a brush with law enforcement officials at Heathrow Airport in May. After members of his group were not allowed entrance into the British Airways first-class lounge, he and his group started a ‘mini-riot’ that caused seven officers to incur minor injuries, including cuts, bruises and a fractured hand. After further evaluation of Snoop’s record, the UK has banned him from ever entering the country again due to his criminal record in the United States, which includes drug charges and gun offenses.
Both of these stars have a significant fan base that ranges in ages from the very old to the very young. Many are aware of the constant battles over whether or not the media truly influences children. Does TV violence actually cause children to become more violent, or do children who are naturally more violent just watch more violent TV shows? Are children truly influenced by what they see celebrities doing on TV? Many people think that this is still a debate and that we do not truly know how much the media influences children, but the social psychological facts show that this has been proven time and time again.
Children are definitely somewhat influenced by what they see on the television and by what they see celebrities doing, especially when it comes to aggressive acts like the recent events involving DMX and Snoop Dogg. Social psychologist Sharon S. Brehm explains that adult attitudes toward aggression can be affected by childhood exposure to it because it makes aggression “seem more legitimate and even necessary for social interaction and resolution of social conflicts.” Aggression no longer becomes a novel incidence and no longer grabs our attention when we see it in the media everyday, therefore creating habituation, or a basic non-response to violence.
Celebrities have an impact on the aggressive and violent tendencies of children, but the influence of celebrities does not only extend into the negative side of things. Brehm explains that when celebrities do good things, this also has an impact on children. One reason is because they provide a model of behavior to imitate directly. Second, if these people are rewarded for their behavior, this shows kids that good behavior is valued. Social psychologist Susan Hearold also found that “the effect of prosocial behavior was about twice as large as the effect of TV violence on aggressive behavior.” It is actually more important that children see role models on TV doing good because the effect is greater, rather than simply getting rid of violence and role models performing badly on TV.
Widespread campaigns, like ALDO’s Youth AIDS campaign is not only good because they help a charitable organization, but because they use well-known role models. Celebrities like Avril Lavigne, Ludacris, Eve, John Mayer and Eva Mendes are shown on Billboards and posters with the campaign “See, Hear, Speak” to promote AIDS awareness. Each celebrity wears empowerment tags and is featured alongside a quote of how they want to raise awareness. Through campaigns like these, children will not only use their favorite celebrity as a source of entertainment, but also as a role model of how to help others and become more charitable.
When grown men commit immature and aggressive acts and
end up in the media, their acts are only reinforced. But in fact, doing
good can have more of an impact on children. Celebrities need to shift
their focus away from the glam and glory of fighting and riots, and
look to use their status in ways that not only help the less fortunate
but provide a good model for children.
