In Psychology Today, writer Carlin Flora suggests that America’s fascination with celebrity is a symptom of a larger cultural obsession with the three A’s — affluence, attractiveness, and acheivement. Celebrities seem to embody all of those.

Affluence, attractiveness, and acheivement are certainly not inhrently harmful, but fixation on them can divert people from other values such as community, charity, and commitment.

Flora quotes psychologist James Houran, who says that in a secular society the “need for ritualized worship can be displaced onto celebrities.”

“Nonreligious people tend to be more interested in celebrity culture,” Houran says. “For them, celebrity fills some of the same roles the church fills for believers, like the desire to fit into a community of people with shared values.”

Consider that when you are thinking about who is your “American Idol.” Looks aren’t everything and money can’t buy happiness. And we are more than the sum of our achievements and failures.

Sure, you know that. Still, messages from the celebrity-crazed media bombard us.

Educators and psychologists say critical-thinking skills will help us analyze the mixed messages.

But critical-thinking skills are learned. Pictures and stories about Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson are everywhere. Now think about why Paris Hilton and Nichole Richie have a television show.

Because they are celebrities, and they are celebrities because they are on a TV show.

This kind of circular logic makes no sense. But often we don’t see the world through the lense of critical thinking. People sometimes don’t ask why or how a celebrity acheived that lofty status. You don’t have to be famous for doing anything. You can be famous for being famous.