Relationships - attachment theory of parasocial r/ships Flashcards
What is a type B child
Secure
What is a Type C child
Insecure resistant
What is a type A child
Insecure avoidant
How does a type B attachment style impact adult r/ships
Empathetic; able to create meaningful loving relationships; high self-esteem.
How does a type A attachment style impact adult r/ships
Problems with intimacy; invests little in emotional relationships; unwilling to share feelings.
How does a type C attachment style impact adult r/ships
Avoid but want closeness; worries that partner doesn’t love them; distraught when relationships end.
Who is most likely to develop parasocial r/ships and why
- Type C
- PSRs make no demands and do not involve criticism or the risk of rejection.
What key component of the attachment theory do fans show when they do things like collecting trivia on fave celeb
Proximity-seeking
What is proximity-seeking
Individuals attempt to reduce the distance between themselves and their attachment figure.
How is a secure base presented in PSRs
With a PSR, there is little or no chance of rejection from the AF so the individual is able to create a secure base from which they can explore other relationships in a safe way.
How is protest at disruption shown in PSRs
I.e if the celebrity dies or they are cut from a TV show, the band breaks up etc.
E.g., distraught fans when One Direction broke up.
What do Cole and Leeds explain
Why some people are more likely to develop PSRs.
Why do Cole and Leeds say Type C are most likely to enter a PSR
- Individuals hold more negative views about themselves. They turn to TV characters as a means of satisfying their often unmet relational needs. These PSRs reflect their desire for intimacy, even if this intimacy is with a TV personality.
Who do Cole and Leeds say are least likely to enter a PSR and why
Insecure-avoidant
They find it difficult to develop intimate relationships and therefore are less likely to seek real-life relationships or PSRs.
Who did Cole and Leeds say ‘engage in a moderate level of PS interaction’ and why
- Type B
These individuals were particularly likely to turn to parasocial interaction when they found it hard to trust their relational partner.
Evaluation
- Evidence (Kienlen)
P- There is evidence that illustrates the link between attachment types and PSR.
E- Kienlen found that 63% of stalkers experienced an early loss of a primary caregiver, usually due to parental separation, while more than 50% reported physical, mental or sexual abuse as a child.
E- This supports the idea that disruptive attachments can foster parasocial relationships down the line.
L- Therefore… it provides credibility to the theory.
Evaluation
- contradictory research
P- There is evidence that questions the link between attachment types and PSR.
E- For example, McCutcheon (2006) measured the attachment styles and celebrity related attitudes in 299 participants. The researchers found that the participants with insecure attachments were no more likely to form parasocial relationships with celebrities than participants with secure attachments.
L- Therefore, this contradictory research suggests that attachment styles are not the only factor involved in the development of parasocial relationships, making the theory incomplete.
Evaluation
- Issues with application
P- Attachment theory of PSR fails to take into account that these relationships can be functional.
E- For example, in some cases where people have lost an attachment figure (e.g., parental death or divorce) people can seek comfort in PSR.
E- If done in a harmless way (e.g., not at the borderline- pathological level) this can provide much needed relief for the individual.
L- This suggests that attachment theory of PSR may encounter issues when applied to ‘some’ real life cases.
Evaluation
- Cultural influences
P- Research studies have identified a tendency for some people to form a parasocial relationship with Harry Potter, an entirely fictional character. Developing this idea, Schmid and Klimmt (2011) report that this tendency is not culture specific.
E- Using an online questionnaire methodology they found similar levels of parasocial attachments to Harry Potter in an Individualistic culture (Germany) and a Collectivist culture (Mexico).
L- This shows a flaw in attachment theory as previous research has taught us collectivist cultures have more Type C compared to individualistic cultures. Hence, we would expect more PSRs in Mexico compared to Germany, but this is not the case.
