Lesson 11 - Parasocial Relationships: Attachment Theory Flashcards
Bowlby’s Attachment Theory
Individuals who did not form strong attachments with their primary caregiver were likely to find an attachment substitute as adults, for example in parasocial relationships
Ainsworth’s Attachment Types
Individuals who formed an insecure-resistant relationship with their caregiver in early childhood will be more likely to form parasocial relationships, as they are afraid of the criticism and rejection of real life relationships. As shown in the Strange Situation, I-R children were less likely to explore, and more clingy to their mothers. This can translate to clingy and jealous behaviour in adulthood, and can make it difficult for people to develop lasting, committed relationships. This leads them to parasocial relationships.
Strengths of Attachment Theory
It is also supported by research. Kienlen et al (1997) investigated stalkers and found that 63% of their participants experienced a loss of a caregiver in early childhood while 50% experienced emotional and physical abuse. Therefore this supports the idea that disturbed childhood attachments could lead to borderline-pathological behaviour
Cole and Leets (1999) investigated parasocial relationships that adolescents developed with TV personalities. They found that teenagers with I-R attachment types were more lily to develop parasocial relationships with TV characters.
It also has cross cultural validity. Dinkha et al (2015) compared a collectivist culture in Kuwait and an individualistic culture in the US. They found that people with an I-R type were more likely to form unusual relationships with TV personalities/characters. This was true in both cultures. May be universal
Weaknesses of attachment theory
Other studies do not support this. McCutcheon et al (2006) examined the correlation between attachment type and celebrity worship levels using 229 participants. No link was found. This therefore contradicts the claim made by attachment theory.
Another issue is that too much of the supporting research is correlational, and this means that cause and effect cannot be safely found. Rather they show a relationship between the variables. There could be a third variable involved like low levels of education are associated with high levels of parasocial relationships.
