Parasocial Relationships

Question 1

3 Stages of a PS RS

Answer 1

Maltby et al used the Celebrity Attitude
Scale (developed by McCutcheon et al) to
establish three different stages of parasocial relationships, each increasing with emotional intensity and commitment towards the celebrity.

Question 2

Entertainment social

Answer 2

Celebrity news is used as a
source of gossip (Giles) and so can
strengthen real-life relationships with friends due to having more common interests.

Question 3

Intense personal

Answer 3

Characterised by obsessive thoughts about the celebrity and an advanced emotional connection with them.

Question 4

Borderline pathological

Answer 4

Associated with more pathological behaviours such as stalking and/or resentment against anyone who may
prevent the individual from carrying out these behaviours.

Question 5

Absorption addiction model

Answer 5

Absorption indicates the individual’s initial interest and developing obsession with the celebrity, whilst the addiction model indicates the individual’s need to increase the intensity and commitment of their
parasocial relationship, through increasingly pathological behaviours.

Question 6

Attachment theory

Answer 6

An individual with an insecure-resistant attachment type is more likely to be involved in a parasocial relationship as well as those with an insecure-avoidant attachment type.

Question 7

• P - Weak explanation

Answer 7

E - Bowlby’s attachment theory may be a better explanation for the development of pathological traits in parasocial relationships, compared to the absorption-addiction model.
E - This is because the latter model accurately describes the acquirement and maintenance of parasocial relationships (i.e. in terms of the initial absorption and then consequent addiction to fulfill the original desires), whereas Bowlby’s attachment theory can explain why some people are more likely to begin parasocial relationships than others.
L - Therefore, Bowlby’s attachment theory has a greater practical explanatory value.

Question 8

+ P - Research support

Answer 8

E - There is evidence to support the idea that different psychological states are associated with each of the three stages of parasocial relationship formation, as suggested by Maltby et al. For example, the final borderline-psychotic stage is associated with psychotic traits, whilst the second stage is associated with neuroticism.
E - This, alongside previous evidence from Maltby et al which found a positive correlation between increasing body dissatisfaction and an increasing likelihood of developing a parasocial relationship, supports the idea that abnormal psychological functioning is heavily implicated in the formation of parasocial relationships.
L - This is in line with McCutcheon’s original theory and predictions, increasing the validity of such ideas.

Question 9

• P - Flawed methodology

Answer 9

E - Correlational research can
only demonstrate a link between two variables and so cannot establish a ‘cause and effect’ relationship between, for example, personality type and the likelihood of forming a parasocial relationship.
E - Such correlational studies also do not take into account the ‘third variable problem’, where a third, unstudied variable may be affecting both outcomes.
L - This therefore reduces the reliability of the Celebrity Attitude Scale and McCutcheon’s stages as explanations of parasocial relationships.