Looking Up to Stars or Embracing a Fantasy: The Role of Self-Esteem and Self-Discrepancy in Cosplay and Celebrity Worship

Cosplay and celebrity worship are two subcultural hobbies that are incredibly popular among Chinese youth. Research indicates that it's rare for an individual to be deeply involved in both hobbies simultaneously, suggesting significant differences between the two. Previous studies have analyzed the behaviors and characteristics of these two groups separately, but there has been little comparative analysis of the psychological and behavioral traits of their respective audiences. This study conducts a direct comparative analysis of the psychological and behavioral traits and differences between self-identified cosplay and celebrity worship enthusiasts, aiming to preliminarily explore and explain the core determinants between the two hobby groups. The research begins by examining the behavioral traits of cosplay and celebrity worship through the analysis of Weibo texts containing specific keywords. It reveals that celebrity worship behaviors are associated with more intense negative emotions. Furthermore, an investigation among Weibo users who identify with these groups indicates that celebrity worshipers are actually happier. Finally, survey results on the psychological mechanisms of these groups reveal that celebrity worshipers tend to have high self-esteem and self-discrepancy, and binary logistic regression analysis suggests that these variables and their interaction significantly influence whether individuals choose celebrity worship or cosplay.