Abstract
This paper examines the conceptual differences between an idol and a model among a sample of young people in China. A questionnaire was specifically designed to measure young people’s criteria for idol worship and model learning using three pairs of contrasting constructs: idealism versus realism, romanticism versus rationalism, absolutism versus relativism. The questionnaire also asks each respondent to nominate up to three favourite idols and models in life. Atotal of 826 high school students and university students in Hong Kong and Nanjing completed the questionnaire. The results provide convergent support for the hypothesised conceptual differences between an idol and a model. Idealism, romanticism, and absolutism were more important in idol selection whereas realism, rationalism, and relativism were more important in model selection. Hong Kong young people selected significantly more idealism-romanticism-absolutism oriented celebrities whereas Nanjing young people selected significantly more realism-rationalism-relativism oriented celebrities.
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