Narcissism and Interest in the Stars: Celebrity Admiration and Belief in Astrology

Abstract

Belief in pseudoscience, especially astrology, is common and can have negative consequences (e.g., financial and psychological) for the believer. We examined the relationships between belief in astrology, vulnerable and grandiose narcissism and celebrity admiration. University students (n = 252) completed the Belief in Astrology Inventory, Maladaptive Covert Narcissism Scale, Narcissistic Personality Inventory and Celebrity Attitude Scale. We discovered that vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, and celebrity admiration, are significantly and positively related to belief in astrology. Multiple regression analysis revealed that vulnerable narcissism and celebrity admiration, but not grandiose narcissism, are the only variables that account for unique variance in belief in astrology when controlling for all variables. Results are discussed in terms of how common characteristics associated with vulnerable narcissism may underlie relationships to celebrity admiration and belief in astrology.