Absorption-addiction Theory

• Deficits lead people to pursue relationships with celebrities
• Starts in adolescence and for some individuals progresses (but most remain harmlessly interested in celebs - level 1 or not at all)
• Some may then become increasingly absorbed because they:

  • Have a weaker sense of personal identity
  • Are introverted, shy and/or tacking in social skills
  • Have poorer psychological adjustment (i.e. psychological problems or disorders)
• Personal crises may be a factor in moving people onto the next level of the CAS subscales
• Only the most disordered become addicted (level 3)
• Likened to an addiction (obsessive, tolerance, withdrawal, functioning)
• Parasocial relationships are providing a means for escape, a sense of identity and filling in for psychological deficits
• A testable hypothesis - the model predicts

  • An association between poorer psychological health and the strength of parasocial relationships (Levels 1,2,3)
  • An association between identity issues and the strength of parasocial relationships
  • An association between loneliness and the strength of parasocial relationships
  • That intense celebrity interest should have features of addiction
• What does McCutcheon (2002) suggest?

  Parasocial relationships can make up for persona deficiencies, it also provides an escape from mundane lives
• What may people be triggered towards?

  A higher level by stressful life events such as a bereavement
• What are the two components of this model?

  Absorption and addiction
• What does the absorption component do?


  Seeks fulfilment in celebrity worship, motivates an individual to focus their attention on the celebrity to become absorbed in the celebrity's existence and identify with them
• What does the addiction component do?


  The individual needs to increase their 'dose' of involvement to gain satisfaction - may lead to more extreme behaviours and delusional thinking