What is the mnemonic for parasocial relationships?
Caitlyn
Lusts
After
Ben
Affleck
What does the mnemonic for parasocial relationships stand for?
C = celebrity attitude scale (CAS)
L = levels
A = absorption-addiction model
B= Bowlby
A = Ainsworth
What is a parasocial relationship?
One-sided, unreciprocated relationship
Usually with a celebrity, on which the 'fan' expends a lot of emotional energy, commitment and time.
What is CAS?
Celebrityattitude scale
Used by Maltby et al.
Identifies 3 levels of parasocial relationships
What are the 3 levels of parasocial relationships?
Entertainment social level
Intense-personal level
Borderlinepathological level
What is the entertainment social level?
Least intense level where celebrities are viewed as a source of socialentertainment and a fuel for social interaction
What is the intense-personal level?
Intermediate level where someone becomes more personally involved with a celebrity and may include obsessive thoughts
What is the borderline pathological level?
Strongest level of celebrity worship where fantasies are uncontrollable and behaviour is more extreme
E.g. spending lots of money on merchandise, willing to perform some illegal act
Outline the absorption- addiction model (1)
Developed by McCutcheon & suggests that parasocial relationships can make up for personaldeficiencies (eg lack of fulfilment)
Parasocial relationships also provide an escape from reality and people may be triggered towards a higher level by stressful life events
Outline the absorption- addiction model (2)
Absorption
Seeking fulfilment in celebrity worship motivates an individual to focus their attention on the celebrity.
To become absorbed in the celebrity's life and identify with them.
Addiction
Like a psychological addiction, individual needs to increase their 'dose' of involvement to gain satisfaction.
This may lead to more extremebehaviours & delusional thinking.
How does attachment theory explain parasocial relationships? (Bowlby)
Bowlby's attachment theory suggests that early difficulties in attachment may lead to difficulties in forming successful relations later in life (IWM).
Such difficulties may lead to a preference for parasocial relationships to replace those within one's own social circle as parasocial relationships do not require the same skills.
How does attachment theory explain parasocial relationships? (Ainsworth)
Ainsworth identified two attachment types associated with unhealthy emotional development (insecure-avoidant & insecure resistant)
IR are more likely to form parasocial relationships because they want to have their unfulfilled needs met in a relationship where there is not real threat of rejection
IA are the least likely as they prefer to avoid the pain and rejection of any type of relationship, social or parasocial
Evaluate parasocial relationships
:) Cross-cultural support; Schmid & Klimmt found similar levels of parasocial attachment to Harry Potter in both individualistic (Germany) & collectivist cultures (Mexico)
:( self-report studies
:( link to attachment theory lacks support; McCutcheon et al. found that participants with IR were no more likely to form parasocial relationships with celebrities than participants with secure attachment styles