Author - Mayu AMANO

This study explores why some fans in Japanese fandoms engage in ‘refusal-to-share’ behaviour—avoiding interactions with others who support the same celebrity to maintain an exclusive emotional bond. Through semi-structured interviews with 21 female fans, we identified four types of refusal-to-share behaviour based on romantic versus non-romantic orientation and level of self-affirmation: Romantic/High Self-Affirmation, Romantic/Low Self-Affirmation, Non-Romantic/High Self-Affirmation, and Non-Romantic/Low Self-Affirmation. Across all groups, this behaviour functioned as a self-protective strategy to preserve a private, idealized ‘dream world’ with the celebrity. Linked to narcissistic traits such as possessiveness and psychological ownership, refusal-to-share behaviour can be interpreted through attachment theory and distinctions between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. While some fans embraced exclusivity, others experienced inner conflict and self-criticism. These findings...