Attachment Theory Explanation of Parasocial Relationships

Question 1

Research support for attachment theory:

Answer 1

-Research evidence providing support for the attachment theory of parasocial relationships was conducted by Roberts (2007).
-This study found support for the idea that there is a link between childhood attachments and parasocial relationship.
-Roberts asked 200 undergraduate students to complete an attachment styles questionnaire and a self-report scale measuring frequency of attempts to contact a favourite
celebrity.
-The study found a positive correlation between preoccupied attached individuals (similar to Ainsworth’s insecure resistant type) and frequently contacting celebrities.
-Those individuals who made the greatest number of attempts to contact a celebrity were the most
likely to have higher scores on preoccupied attachment type (insecure resistant).
-These findings are consistent with predictions drawn from the attachment theory explaining why
parasocial relationships occur.

Question 2

Contradictory evidence for attachment theory:

Answer 2

-However, an issue with the attachment theory in explaining parasocial relationships is that there is strong contradictory evidence.
-McCutcheon et al. (2006) measured attachment types and celebrity related attitudes (CAS) in 229 participants.
-The researchers found that attachment security did not affect the likelihood of forming a parasocial relationship with a celebrity.
-Participants with insecure attachments were no more likely to form parasocial relationships with celebrities that participants with secure attachments.
-These findings therefore refute the central prediction of the attachment theory, raising issues with the validity of this explanation to explain
parasocial relationships.
-This is a limitation of using attachment theory to explain parasocial relationships because it shows that it has little predictive validity.

Question 3

Universal tendency:

Answer 3

-One strength of attachment theory is that it can explain why people all
over the world have a desire to form parasocial relationships.
-Dinkha et.al (2015) compared
two contrasting cultures: Kuwait, a collectivist one and the USA, an individualistic one.
-The researchers found that people with an insecure attachment type were the most likely to form
these intense parasocial relationships with TV personalities and characters (e.g. Rachel from
Friends).
-This was true in both types of culture.
-The reason for forming a parasocial relationship is independent of cultural influences.
-This supports the view that attachment type may be a universal explanation for the need to form parasocial relationships.