Parasocial Relationships

PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

Parasocial Relationships

- Parasocial relationships are appealing because they make few demands, and the person does not risk rejection.

- Parasocial relationships are more likely to form with characters considered attractive and similar to the viewer (homophily)

The Absorption Addiction Model and Levels of Parasocial Relationships

- Absorption may become addictive, leading the person to extreme behaviours to sustain satisfaction with the parasocial relationship.

Giles and Maltby identify 3 levels of parasocial relationships:

- Entertainment-social

- Intense-personal

- Borderline-pathological

An Attachment Theory Explanation of Parasocial Relationships

- Parasocial relationships exhibit the same properties of adult attachment, identified by Weiss.

- Proximity-seeking, secure base, protest at disruption.

- Individuals with insecure-avoidant attachment are most likely to develop parasocial relationships, and avoidant individuals least likely.

Evaluation

- Research support for factors involved in parasocial relationships, from Schiappa et al.

- Parasocial relationships linked to loneliness (Greenwood and Long), but other research suggests not (Chory-Assad and Yanen).

- Absorption addiction model may be linked to mental health, according to Maltby et al.

- Impact of loss of parasocial relationship linked to attachment style, according to Cohen.

- Research by Schmid and Klimmt found cultural similarities in parasocial relationships.