Paper 3 - Relationship - Parasocial Relationships Flashcards

1
Q

What is the short version for Parasocial Relationships

A

PSR

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2
Q

What does para mean?

A

Close to or beside

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3
Q

What are PSR?

A

Parasocial relationships are one sided unreciprocated relationships, usually with a celebrity, on which the fan expends a lot of emotional energy, commitment and time but the celebrity doesn’t know the fan exists

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4
Q

When are PSR more likely to occur?

A

PSR’s are more likely to occur if:
The object of affection is perceived as attractive
Perceived as similar to us
Perceived as real
The viewer is female
The viewer is lonely and shy

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5
Q

What are the different levels of PRS relationships?

A

Entertainment social
Intense - personal
Borderline pathological

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6
Q

Explain the top of the levels of PRS relationships

A

Entertainment social
Celebrity is a source of gossip/interaction

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7
Q

Explain the middle level of the levels of PRS relationships

A

Intense - personal
Intensive, compulsive feelings towards celebrities

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8
Q

Explain the bottom level of PSR?

A

Boarderline pathological
Uncontrollable behaviours/ fantasies

Eg some people started cutting themselves when Justin Beiver was arrested

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9
Q

What is the AAM?

A

Absorption Addiction model

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10
Q

Explain the AAM?

A

The AAM has two parts; the first part, absorption, is where people become absorbed in the celebrity’s lifestyle, women might want to look like them and want to establish a personal identity with that person. The second part, addiction, is where the person becomes obsessed with the celebrity and could undertake dangerous behaviours. This can happen in PSR if someone has failed at a normal relationship.

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11
Q

What could lead to someone progressing down the level of PSR?

A

Stressful life events

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12
Q

Explain the theory of a connection between attachment type and likelihood to have a PSR?

A

Theory proposes insecure attachment leads to an increased interest in celebrities.
Because PSRs make no demands, and do not involve criticism or the risk of rejection. Furthermore, the need to have their own unfulfilled needs are met (resistant)

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13
Q

Why relationship type is most likely to form a PSR?

A

Insecure resistant (anxious ambivalent)

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14
Q

Explain the attachment type in reference to PSR - securely attached?

A

Securely attachment - • Not likely
• Often have satisfactory real-life relationships and do not seek as additional relationship with a celebrity.

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15
Q

Explain the attachment type in reference to PSR - anxious avoidant

A

Insecure avoidant (anxious avoidant)- • Least likely
• They find it difficult to develop relationships and therefore are very unlikely to seek them from real or fictional people.

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16
Q

Explain the attachment type in reference to PSR - insecure resistant

A

Insecure resistance (anxious ambivalent) - • Most likely to form PSRs
• They have concern that others will not reciprocate their desire for intimacy. They turn to TV characters to satisfy their “unrealistic and often unmet relational needs”

17
Q

Explain the results of McCutheon’s study?

A

Of 600ppts;
• 20% fell into the first category of ‘Entertainment- Social’
• 10% the second ‘Intense- Personal’
• 1% the third ‘Borderline- Pathological’

18
Q

State the evaluations of AAM?

A

Explanation power

19
Q

State the evaluation of attachment types?

A

Problems with the attachment theory

20
Q

State the evaluations of - general PSR and attachment types

A

An explanation of eating disorder
Links to mental health
Roberts (2007)

21
Q

State the evaluations for PSR

A

Cultural differences

22
Q

State the evaluations of AAM and PSR?

A

Methodological issues

23
Q

Explain the evaluation of AAM - explanationism

A

• A better description than explanation
• Describes the characteristics of people who are most absorbed by and addicted to celebrities but does not explain how the characteristics develop

24
Q

Explain the evaluation of attachment types - problems with the attachment theory

A

McCutcheon et al. (2006)
1. Adults with insecure attachment are more likely to become attached to celebrities than those with a secure adult attachment type.
2. Insecure adults are more likely to agree with/condone stalking and obsessive behaviour towards celebrities.
3. There is a correlation between stalking and pathological tendencies towards attachment to celebrities.
McCutcheon et al’s research: Sample: 299 students (age 16-42) Procedure: used Celebrity Attitude Scale and a Stalking Scale.
Measured adult attachment using a relationship questionnaire.
Measured childhood attachment type through the use of a parental bonding scale based on their recall of the relationship with their parents before the age of 16.

25
Q

Explain the general evaluation of PSR and attachment type - An explanation of eating disorders

A

Maltby (2005) looked in particularly at females aged 14-16 who had a parasocial relationship with a female whose body shape they admired. They found these females had a poor body image. They speculated this could be a precursor to the development of anorexia.
Understanding the development of anorexia, could lead to education on parasocial relationships in school i.e. preventive measures implemented to prevent anorexia.
Correlational research method has issues with determining cause and effect, could just be speculative.

26
Q

Explain the general evaluation of PSR and attachment type - links to mental health

A

Maltby et al (2003) used the Eysenck personality questionnaire to assess the relationships between parasocial relationship level and personality.
Entertainment Social = Extraversion (sociable, lively)
Intense Personal = Neuroticism (tense, emotional, moody) (Neuroticism is also linked to depression and anxiety) Borderline Pathological = Psychoticism (anti social, egocentric)
Certain people’s personalities – e.g. those with personality disorders are potentially vulnerable to getting addicted to PSRs (BPD/ Psychotic personality disorder)

27
Q

Explain the general evaluation of PSR and attachment type - Roberts (2007)

A

• 200 students (100 male, 100 female) answered questions similar to the CAS and found a positive correlation between insecurely attached individuals and frequently contacting celebrities.
• McCutcheon et al. (2006) – 250 university students completed questionnaires examining personality types and their views on celebrities.
• They did not find a relationship between having an insecure attachment and parasocial relationships

28
Q

Explain the evaluation of PSR - cultural differences

A

Schmid and Klimmt (2001) found that the tendency to form a parasocial relationship with Harry Potter is not culturally specific
• Individualist cultures and collectivist cultures showed similar levels of parasocial attachment.

29
Q

Explain the evaluation of AAM and PSR …?

A

Self report measures – can cause bias as people can give socially desirable answers
• Correlational analysis – parasocial relationships CAUSE women to have poor body image
• Could it be the other way around?
• Could be addressed with longitudinal research