Fanatics never change

The article we read titled "'Get a Life': Fans Poachers and Nomads" traces the word "fan" back to the Latin word "fanaticus," which basically means temple servant or devotee. This definition was stretched to contain some negative connotations - devotion to the point of obsession or "enthusiastic frenzy."

This definition really makes sense when you think about fanatic fans. The meaning has carried on for centuries and centuries.

Here we have Justin Bieber fans...

...compared to Beatles Fans:

Notice the similarity?

It is clear that something like obsessive fandom is something that has been a part of our culture forever. Screaming girls going crazy for bands and musicians and actors.

Why, especially as females, do we go so crazy for these guys? How do we get to the point of freaking out and crying and fainting?? It seems kind of ridiculous if you think about it...

And yet fandom comes in waves of repeating itself - I'm sure many of us can say we were crazy fanatics of either NSYNC, Back Street Boys, or Hanson (or all three).

So I pose the question, what is the underlying motivation for the fanaticism young girls exhibit for these idols?