Parasocial Relationships

• Parasocial relationship - a one-sided, unreciprocated relationship where one person extends emotional energy, interest and time while the other person is completely unaware of their existence e.g. a celebrity
• Levels of Parasocial Relationships:

  > McCutcheon developed the Celebrity Attitude Scale, which is a questionnaire that identifies three levels of parasocial relationships

  > each level describes the attitudes and behaviours at each level

  > as the levels increase, so does the intensity of the parasocial relationship and celebrity worship

  > entertainment social, intense-personal, borderline pathological
• Level 1 - Entertainment Social (least intense):

  > celebrities viewed as sources of entertainment and individuals may speak about them often with friends for social interaction

  > for example, people may talk about soap operas or reality TV stars

  > an individual in this level keeps up on the activities of celebrities for the purpose of entertainment
• Level 2 - Intense-Personal (intermediate level):

  > an individual has strong feelings for a celebrity (greater personal involvement) and may appear 'obsessed' with them

  > individuals have intense feelings for the celebrity, just as they would for a real-life relationships

  > for example, a fan of Harry Styles may have frequent obsessive thoughts and intense feelings about him, such as considering him their 'soulmate'
• Level 3 - Borderline Pathological (strongest level):

  > an individual has uncontrollable fantasies and displays extreme behaviours towards that celebrity

  > individuals at this level show addictive behaviours towards a celebrity

  > they may spend a lot of time and money in attempting to meet and befriend that celebrity e.g. sending them personal gifts or being willing to perform some illegal action on the celebrity's behalf
• Parasocial Relationships - Absorption Addiction Model:

  > links the levels of parasocial relationships with poor psychological health and deficiencies e.g. low self-esteem

  > personal crisis or stressful life event can trigger someone to move from entertainment social to more intense involvement - allows them to escape from reality and gives a sense of fulfilment

  > McCutcheon recognises a correlation between poor psychological health and the level of parasocial relationships

  > two components: absorption and addiction
• Parasocial Relationships - Absorption Addiction Model:

  > absorption - an individual focuses their attention on the celebrity and identify with them, rather than having to think about their own life, which gives them a sense of identity

  > addiction - their obsession becomes similar to a physiological addiction to a substance. The individual needs to increase their 'dose' to gain satisfaction, which can lead to more extreme behaviours and delusional thinking as the individual moves through the levels of parasocial relationships
• Levels of Parasocial Relationships/Absorption Addiction AO3:

  :) RTS Maltby

  :( Based on correlational research

  :( Alternative explanation - attachment theory
• Parasocial Relationships - Attachment Theory (1):

  > Bowlby - early difficulties in attachment leads to poor internal working models, which leads to emotional troubles in later life

  > this can lead to poor psychological health in the future, which is linked to forming parasocial relationships
• Parasocial Relationships - Attachment Theory (2):

  > Secure childhood attachment - can develop loving two-way relationships in face to face relationships = little need for parasocial relationships

  > Insecure-avoidant childhood attachment - difficulty trusting others, so are less likely to foster close emotional ties in either face to face or parasocial relationships = less likely to form parasocial relationships
• Parasocial Relationships - Attachment Theory (3):

  > Insecure-resistant childhood attachment - seek to have unfulfilled needs met in adulthood, so have a need for close emotional relationships = more likely to form parasocial relationships because they do not bring a fear of rejection or disappointment like real relationships
• Parasocial Relationships - Attachment Theory AO3:

  :) Universal explanation (Dinkha)

  :( RTC McCutcheon

  :( Alternative explanation - absorption addiction model