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Angelina Jolie and David Beckham are more influential role
models than famous historical figures
Research carried out at the University of Leicester's department
of media and communication found that the legacies of the likes
of Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare and Isaac Newton are
less significant to today's youngsters than the Tomb Raider
star, the England footballer or the Australian pop singer.
Dr Charlotte de Backer - whose research is published in the
journal Human Nature - found that the high publicity afforded to
households like the Jolie-Pitts or the Beckhams makes them
'teachers' for the young.
She said: "Life is about learning, gaining experience and in
that process we have a tendency to observe and mimic the actions
of others. Ideally we mimic what makes others successful and
avoid unsuccessful actions others have trialled (and paid for).
"In reality, humans seem to have the tendency to mimic the
overall behavior pattern of higher status or more successful
others.
"This explains why celebrities act as role models for broad
ranges of behavior they display - good or bad."
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