Source: ezinearticles.com
The first reports of fan suicide following the death of Michael Jackson seemed, on the surface, a contradiction to those ideals for which MJ stood.Indeed, Rev. Jesse Jackson asked, "Michael Jackson", fans to create futures not funerals in order to honor those ideals.
Oscar Levant, famous pianist and composer, once jokingly said, "There is a fine line between genius and insanity.I have erased this line."None could argue there was a distinction between Michael Jackson, the genius entertainer, and Michael Jackson, the tormented, and some would say sick, soul.Fans could relate to either or both depending upon their own bent.Most have chosen to remember the former, but some have "erased this line."
Idolization and identification with a superstar personality is not unusual.Sports fans spend billions of dollars each year on jerseys, equipment, and memorabilia of their favorite players and teams. Movie fans, likewise, spend huge amounts of money not only going to movies but dressing, acting, and attempting to look like their favorite stars. And music fans buy albums and videos, download songs, go to concerts, and idolize and identify with their alter egos.To his credit Michael Jackson's fan entourage spanned five decades.He rarely failed to deliver at any stage of his career.Professionals everywhere have spoken of his influence on music, lyrics, videos, dancing, stage presentation, and overall showmanship.He truly is the benchmark standard to which all others will be compared.
A diagnosis of Identity Problem is a very broad and general category that can be used by mental health professionals when, "Michael Jackson", there is uncertainty about multiple issues relating to an individual's identity.It is, however, a legitimate and verifiable psychological condition.To the average person, Michael Jackson's death was the loss of a talent. But to the individuals struggling for identity and having found that identity in MJ, his death became the loss of self.A Russian Jackson impersonator almost literally lost what he believed to be a reflection of himself.Believing there was nothing else for which to live, he unsuccessfully attempted suicide, only to state he would eventually succeed.
However, it was not only identification that caused the suicide phenomenon but idolization.Some believed MJ was more important than anything else in their lives.They spoke of him with love and reverence.When he died, they believed they had lost their beacon.
Lastly, among the impressionable, which have no age boundaries, there is mass hysteria and mob psychology.More than thirty years ago a deranged leader led almost a thousand people to their deaths by suicide at Jonestown.They had lost their own identity.Unfortunately, unlike Michael Jackson, the individual with whom they idolized and identified and was their beacon was disingenuous and self-serving.
Let those of us who are healthy, a relative term, not "drink the kool aid" of insensitivity.To those who would make fun of or view with disdain their fellow human beings, consider these are individuals who have lost their way.The humane thing to do is to help, not to relegate the phenomenon to "natural selection."
Each of us in some way, acknowledged or not, has been influenced by something Michael Jackson has done.As with all of human behavior, idolization and identification are natural outgrowths of being a fan, but when carried to extremes, particularly with those who are vulnerable, the results can be as tragic as the loss of such a superstar as Michael Jackson.It becomes suicide by idolization and identification.
Copyright 2009 Yellen & Associates All rights reserved.
Dr. Andrew Yellen is a parent, former educator, and clinical and sports psychologist in private practice. He is also the co-founder along with his wife Heidi Yellen, M.A., B.C.E.T., of Yellen & Associates (http://www.yellenandassociates.com), a southern California firm providing psychological, educational, speech, and language services. Dr. Yellen's parenting systems have been taught locally for over 20 years. Now, on the Internet, he is sharing his knowledge and experience at ParentDoc.com
Currently pioneering advances in the field of Brain Electrical Activity Mapping, Dr. Yellen has augmented the accuracy of psychological assessments by offering the latest technological advances of Digital EEG Spectral Analysis (DESA) to schools, rehab clinics , attorneys, sports organizations, and our injured veterans
Dr. Yellen has appeared nationally on television as well as giving commentary on local television and radio stations. He is the author of The Art of Perfect Parenting and Other Absurd Ideas and co-author of Understanding the Learning Disabled Athlete and Social Facilitation in Action. His books are available for purchase through his website. For further information, personal consultations or speaking engagements, he can be reached at (818) 360-3078
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