AO3 - Attachment Theory

• One strength of attachment theory as an explanation of parasocial relationships is that it can be considered a universal explanation. Dinkha et al compared a collectivist culture (Kuwait) and an individualistic culture (USA) in terms of forming parasocial relationships. It was found that in both cultures, individuals with insecure attachment types were the most likely to form parasocial relationships with TV personalities and characters. This supports the idea that an insecure attachment type may be a universal explanation for parasocial relationships as the attachment theory suggests.
• However, other evidence is not supportive of the attachment theory as an explanation of parasocial relationships. For example, psychologists (McCutcheon et al) measured attachment types and celebrity related attitudes in 299 American students and found that participants with insecure attachment types were no more likely to form parasocial relationships than those with secure attachments. Therefore, this limits the attachment theory as an explanation of parasocial relationships as it suggests the relationship between poor quality attachment and parasocial relationships may be more complex.
• Therefore, an alternative explanation for parasocial relationships is the absorption addiction model which argues that parasocial relationships are formed due to poor psychological health and an individual’s need for a sense of purpose, rather than parasocial relationships being formed due to having an insecure-resistant attachment type in childhood. Therefore, the attachment theory is not the sole explanation in the formation of parasocial relationships.