Parasocial Relationship Flashcards
What is a parasocial relationship
A one sided relationship where one is very committed and the other may not even know they are in the relationship
What is a common form of this relationships
When a person likes a celebrity they see on tv yet only know the character and not the geniune person
What is the model of parasocial relationships called
Absorption-addiction model
Who made the absorption-addiction model and when
McCutcheon et al in 2002
What is the main statement of this model
The reason people seek parasocial relationships because they feel dissatisfied with their own lives
What are the three levels of parasocial relationships
Entertainment-social level
Intense-personal level
Borderline-level
Who identified the three levels of parasocial relationships and when
Giles and Maltby in 2006
What is the entertainment-social level
Where the person keeps up with their celebrity and researches then in order for entertainment
What is the intense-personal level
When the person develops intense feelings for the celebrity and can be described as obsessed
What is the borderline-pathological level
The person has over-identified with a celebrity and their fantasies and behaviours are uncontrollable akin to an addiction
Why has McCutcheon called the first stage of the model “absorption”
Because the person feels so much satisfaction from researching the celebrity they can become more intensely attached to them, becoming more addictive until the person engages in inappropriate behaviour such as stalking
What is the second theory of parasocial relationships and who made it
Attachment theory by Bowlby and Ainsworth
How did Bowlby suggest parasocial relationships
Suggests that we instinctively seek a bond in infancy to a caregiver and if this does not happen we then substitute that figure in adulthood such as a celebrity
What are the types of attachment styles Ainsworth suggested we form in infancy
Insecure-resistant
Secure
What is an insecure-resistant attachment style in infants
They were very clingy with mothers and explored less than others, as they did not feel secure enough to leave their parent
What is an insecure-resistant attachment style in adults
More likely to form parasocial relationships as they are afraid of criticism and rejections from real partners
What is a secure attachment style
They are confident in their relationships and are unlikely to look for celebrities to fulfill their need for attachment and can form lasting attachments to real people
What is the evidence for attachment theory
Cole and Leets in 1999 found that those with insecure-resistant attachment styles are more likely to be in a parasocial relationships and that those with a insecure-avoidant style would be least likely as they often avoid relationships as a qhole
What are the strengths of attachment theory
Research shows that the formation of parasocial relationships have positive effects
Perse and Rubin in 1989 found that those who are introduced to the same character in soap operas benefits from the parasocial interactions as there is a reduction in uncertainty about social relationships
What are the weaknesses of attachment theory
Maltby et al in 2005 found that a parasocial relationship with celebrities considered slim and a good body shape leads to a poor body image in female adolescents and a predisposition to eating disorders. Which suggests that parasocial relationships provide expectations in society
