parasocial reltaionships

• one in which an individual is attracted to another individual (usually a celeberity) but the target individual is usually unaware of the existence of teh person who has created the relationship
• • indiivudals can become psychologically absorbed with a celeberity which might tak eon an addictive component leading them to engage in more risky behaviour such as stalking, in order to get mentally, and sometimes physically, closer to the celebrity they worship.

  giles and maltby idetify 3 levels in this process

  (absorption addiction model)
• 3 levels

  1. entertainment-social - fans attracted to fav celeb, and will watch them, keep up to date with them and learn about them for entertainment purposes
  2. intense -personal -intensive and compulsive feelings where there is a deeper relationship towards celeb and more obsessional tendencies
  3. borderline pathological- uncontrollable behaviours and fantasies about celebrities
• research support-meta analysis of studies of para social relationships

  schippa found a significant positive correlation between the amount of tv participants watch and the degree to which they percieved a tv character as real and their level of parasocial relationship.

  Greenwood and Long found some evidence that people may develop para social relationships as a way of dealing with current loss or loneliness. - real life application for this as a way of reducing peopels relationships- can connect with people with similar interests, potential to increase your social network
• How does bowlby's theory relate?

  Bowlby's theory predicts that individuals who didnt form a strong bond with a primary caregiver ine arly childhood will try to find an attachement subsitute as adults and engaging in parasocial relationships allows them to do so
• Who are most likely to form a para social

  • insecure resistant relationships, as they are too afraid of criticism and rejection that are a part of real life relationship
  • In Ainsworth they were clingy to their mothers and showed less explorative behaviour as they were too afraid to leave a parent
  • according to Hazan and Shaver this translates into clingy and jealous behaviour in adulthood making it hard to develop lasting relationships therefore celeb worship allows them to engage in fantasy about the perfect relationship without heartbreak and rejection