Lifestyle guru
This article possibly contains original research. (February 2008) |
Lifestyle gurus (also called lifestyle coaches, lifestyle trainers, lifestyle consultants) trained people to understand how they can make themselves
Prominent examples of lifestyle gurus include Carole Caplin, who worked as a lifestyle guru for the Blair family.[2]
Activities
Lifestyle gurus embody the para-social, leveraging intimacy, authenticity, and integrity.[clarification needed] They are enabled by social media to attain micro-celebrity status and influence, demonstrating the emotional investment and trust they garner from the public.[3]
Spiritual gurus have significantly influenced consumer behavior, especially in the FMCG sector. Their endorsements are based on public affinity towards spirituality, lending credibility to the products they promote. This has led to a competitive edge for brands like Patanjali and Sri Sri Tattva against established companies (Narendra et al., 2022).[4]
Influencers, especially in health and wellness, effectively engage their audience through "influencer pedagogy". This method, while indirect, educates followers on social media platforms through relatable interactions, cultivating authenticity and expertise (Hendry et al., 2021).[5]
Criticism
Lifestyle gurus have come under heavy criticism in recent years, with most criticisms concerning their utility.[2] Other criticisms have centred on the perception that they are a symptom of the indecisiveness of today's society.[6]
Frank Furedi, a professor of sociology at the University of Kent, has been a prominent critic of lifestyle gurus.[7] Lifestyle gurus have received criticism for preaching unscientific ideas and thus influencing public opinion.[1]
A 2017 article in Vox accused personal-growth gurus of being "all smoke and mirrors", "a hypocrite's game", and "bullshit artistry" aimed at making money from selling a product, such as books or conferences.[8]
See also
- Life coaching
- Motivational speaker
- Peer support specialist
- Self-help
References
- ^ a b Randerson, James (2007-01-03). "Neutralise radiation and stay off milk: the truth about celebrity health claims". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2014-09-29. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
- ^ a b Womack, Sarah; Petre, Jonathan (2005-10-28). "How the cult of the guru puts gullible nation under its spell". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2006-02-11. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
- ISSN 1440-7833– via SAGE Journals.
- ISSN 2581-9402.
- ISSN 1743-9884.
- ^ Knight, India (2005-10-30). "Tone it down, gurus". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 2010-06-05. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
- ^ Furedi, Frank (2005-11-18). "The age of unreason". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 2016-05-13. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
- ^ Goodman, Michele (2017-01-23). "I was a self-help guru. Here's why you shouldn't listen to people like me". vox.com. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2018-01-30.