There are very few who are fortunate enough to witness a drastic change in their lifestyle. Like a journey from living in a tent to becoming celebrities overnight! One such person is Ted Williams, a formerly homeless with a golden voice who became rich but eventually entered a rehab program for alcohol abuse. Randall Colvin, an associate professor of Psychology at the Northeastern University observes the behaviour of individuals who achieve fame and good fortune overnight.
When asked why sudden fame affects the behaviour of certain people, Colvin says that people like to live in the predictable world. The psychology changes when things change because they are not habitual to see themselves in different circumstances. According to him, this unpleasantness is also experienced when somebody gets fame overnight. The person is shaken to the core and a similar situation occurred with Ted Williams who from homelessness was thrown into fame and new but unfamiliar identity. This sudden change of lifestyle made him desperate to return back to his past reality. To reduce the anxiety which was the circumstance of this scenario, Williams turned towards his addiction to alcohol.
There are many ways that celebrities and other popular ones can use to keep their emotional health balanced amidst fame. One of the few methods is to remain close to friends and family, who have known them before their popularity. They prove to be the best supporters in bad phases of life. It is also essential for a famous person to stick to his morals and values and not change them for maintaining his or her fame.
Self-perception also can change because of popularity. People who are matured and well-formed have fewer chances of falling into bad influences. However, a person, with a weak sense of self, is less vulnerable and they are less likely to change themselves into someone their audiences would want or like.
Akshara Palshetkar