fandom

Fandom is a cultural phenomenon that has experienced increased participation alongside consumerism and postmodern society. Fandom refers to a variety of collective behaviors performed by persons who have strongly and socially identified with an aspect of consumer culture, mass media, or some other artifact or non-material culture. Collective behaviors may include being active in fandom social media sites, attending fandom events in public, dressing in a manner that expresses one's solidarity with an aspect of consumer culture, possessing and purchasing paraphernalia that confirms one's attachment to an aspect of consumer culture.

Fandom has been known to affect adult development over a person's life course in both positive and negative ways.