Screams that can rival those of horror movie actors, cries more dramatic than those of a soap opera actress, and blood pumping faster than ever before. These are all signs of a fangirl or fanboy. Fangirls and fanboys are diehard fans of movies, sports, shows, or musical artists, and they are often looked at as crazy or obsessed with the fandom they are a part of. The most common fandoms include the Directioners, Beliebers, and Potterheads, although there are many others. One prominent characteristic of fangirls and fanboys is that they are typically between the ages of 12-20, but sports fans are often much older.
Two students conducted an experiment in PRISMS in which the students were asked if they are fanboys or fangirls, and out of the 20 responses, 12 people stated that they are part of a fandom. Most of these fandoms include musical groups such as One Direction or AC/DC, while there are also video games like The Legend of Zelda and shows like Doctor Who. Despite these 12 people being fangirls or fanboys, they seem calm and collected throughout the school day, even though people who are a part of fandoms are associated with lacking a sense of any stability in their life. An interesting question appears: why are these people normal during the day, and then crying and obsessing online and while attending concerts or premieres?
Fanboys and fangirls remain relatively calm until they see what they are obsessed with. Therefore, while listening to their favorite band, they may be screaming and crying, but that is due to other reasons than their obsession. The main cause for this is the lighting, choreography, and the overall vibe of concert experiences which hype up the fans and make them more emotional. Another factor that can affect this is when fanboys or fangirls started their obsession at a point in their lives that brings them nostalgia. Whether that be in a positive or negative way, revisiting their obsession makes them want to keep coming back because it reminds them of a better time that they want to re-live, or a worse time that makes them feel better now that they are over it.
The reason fangirls and fanboys get obsessed in the first place has a more sensible cause than them simply being insane. As an example, when somebody listens to music they like, they derive pleasure from it, which releases the chemical dopamine from their brain. This chemical is often referred to as the happy chemical because it makes people feel chills or goosebumps and makes them overall happier. Consequently, it is safe to conclude that fangirls and fanboys are not out of their minds for falling in love with a music group or with a television show. Their brain likes it, so they do too.