The book analyzes the various social and psychological theories that relate to why people watch high-profile celebrity court cases (e.g., Anna Nicole Smith, Paris Hilton, O. J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears). It attempts to document the range of reasons that audiences are so interested in these ongoing legal battles and the mediated courtroom drama. It also utilizes statistical analysis in the findings section for the more quantitatively inclined. The basic objective is to capture the uses, gratifications, and motivations of the viewing audience and why these cases are so popular in our modern culture.

This book analyzes the various social and psychological theories that relate to why people watch high-profile celebrity court cases (e.g., Anna Nicole Smith, Paris Hilton, O. J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears). It attempts to document the range of reasons that audiences are so interested in these ongoing legal battles and the mediated courtroom drama. It also utilizes statistical analysis in the findings section for the more quantitatively inclined. The basic objectives are to capture the uses, gratifications, and motivations of the viewing audience and to more fully understand why these cases are so popular in our modern culture.

Researchers across disciplines have been studying the psychology of fans for decades. Seeking to better understand fan behavior and the various factors motivating fans, researchers have studied dozens of variables in hundreds of studies of different fan groups. To date, however, there have been relatively few attempts to integrate this sizable body of work, pulling together findings across from the field to with a broader, more holistic perspective. This book does exactly that, identifying and concisely summarizing research on 28 separate lines of inquiry on the psychology of fans and integrating it all into an empirically-validated model known as the CAPE model. Useful as a textbook for a fandom studies course and as a handbook for fan researchers, this book is essential reading for anyone looking to better understand the state of fan psychology and wanting to conduct their own research exploring the ins and outs of fans of all sorts!

Dated March 2015

The Advocate is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) monthly newsmagazine. Established in 1967, it is the oldest continuing LGBT publication in the United States.