Parasocial Relationships

• Theories of romantic relationships:

  Rusbult’s Investment Model

  Social Exchange Theory 

  Equity Theory 

  Ducks Phase Model
• Parasocial Relationships 


  A one sided, unreciprocated relationship (usually with a celebrity) on which the ‘fan’ expends a lot of emotional energy, commitment & time.
• CAS background?

  • McCutcheon et al (2002) developed the Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS), which was used in a large-scale survey by Maltby et al (2006).
  • They identified three levels of parasocial relationship, each level describing the attitude and behaviours linked to ever more extreme forms of celebrity worship.
• What is CAS?

  • CAS assesses celebrity attraction. The celebrity attitude Scale was used by Maltby et al (2006) to identify three levels of parasocial relationships.
  • The CAS is used in all the research we will study in this area so it's important you know what it’s about.
  • The THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS:
  • Stage 1 - Entertainment-Social
  • Stage 2 - Intense Personal
  • Stage 3 - Borderline Pathological
• Three CAS Levels?

  • Stage 1 - Entertainment-Social
  • Stage 2 - Intense Personal
  • Stage 3 - Borderline Pathological
• Stage 1

  Entertainment-Social:

  “Reading about Jordan's life story is fun”

  • LEAST INTENSE level of celebrity worship
  • Where celebrities viewed as sources of entertainment & fuel for social interaction 
  • Giles (2002) said it was a 'source of gossip for the office'.
• Stage 2

  Intense Personal:

  “I consider Tom Hardy to be my soulmate”

  • INTERMEDIATE LEVEL which reflects a greater personal involvement in a parasocial relationship with a celebrity.
  • Fans might have frequent thoughts about intense feelings for a celebrity - They may become more personally involved with a celebrity and this may include obsessive thoughts.
• Stage 3 


  Borderline Pathological:

  “Katy Perry would be happy if I walked through her front door”

  • STRONGEST LEVEL of celebrity worship, featuring uncontrollable fantasies & extreme behaviours.
  • Fan has uncontrollable fantasies about a celebrity & engages in extreme behaviours 
• The absorption-addiction model - who & year?

  • McCutcheon (2002)
• The absorption-addiction model

  McCutcheon (2002) explains tendency to form parasocial relationships in terms of deficiencies people have in their own lives:

  For example:

  • They have weak sense of self-identity
  • Lack fulfilment in everyday lives.
  • Parasocial relationship allows ‘escape from reality’ from mundane lives.
  • Way of finding fulfilment that can’t achieve in their actual relationships - Parasocial relationships make up for personal deficiencies.
• Can people move stages?

  • Someone initially in entertainment-social orientation to certain celebrity may triggered into more intense involvement by personal crisis/stressful life events e.g. bereavement.
• The absorption-addiction model HAS 2 COMPONENTS:


  • Absorption
  • Addiction
• Absorption:


  • Seeking fulfilment in celebrity worship motivates an individual to focus their attention as much as possible on the celebrity, to become preoccupied/absorbed in their celebrity existence & identify with them.
• Addiction:

  • Just as with an addiction to a psychoactive substance the individual needs to sustain their commitment to the relationship by feeling a stronger & closer involvement with the celebrity (individual needs to increase their ‘dose’ of involvement to gain satisfaction).
  • This may lead to more extreme behaviour & delusional thinking.
  • E.g. stalking a celebrity because you believe that they want to reciprocate your feelings, but someone (their manager maybe) is stopping them.
• Attachment Theory Explanation:

  • Links early attachment problems to parasocial relationships:
  • Bowlby's Theory
  • Ainsworth (1979)
  • Hazan & Shaver
• Hazan & Shaver & Attachment Theory Explanation:

  Links early attachment problems to parasocial relationships:

  • Hazan & Shaver states intensive celebrity worship allows clingy & jealous adults to engage in fantasy about the perfect relationship without heartbreak & rejection.
  • (LINKS TO ATTACHMENT TOPIC)
• Attachment Theory Explanation:

  Links early attachment problems (Insecure attachment) to parasocial relationships:

  • Ainsworth (1979) identified two attachment types associated with unhealthy emotional development:
  • Insecure - resistant types: most likely to form parasocial relationships coz they are too afraid of criticism & rejection in real life relationships. They want to have unfulfilled needs met in a relationship where no real threat of real rejection. 
  • Insecure-avoidant types prefer to avoid pain & rejection of any type of relationship, either social/parasocial.
• Attachment Theory Explanation:

  Links early attachment problems to parasocial relationships:

  • Bowlby’s Theory predicts individuals who didn't form strong attachment with a primary caregiver (early difficulties in attachment may lead to difficulties in forming successful relationships later in life) may try to find attachment substitute as adults & thus engage in parasocial relationships.
  • Such difficulties in attachment 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 social skills.
• Parasocial Relationships we discuss?

  • CAS
  • The absorption-addiction model
  • The attachment theory explanation