Relationships - parasocial relationships

Question 1

what is a parasocial relationship?

Answer 1

one-sided, unreciprocated relationship, usually with a celeb on which the fan spends a lot of emotional investment in

Question 2

what are the levels of parasocial relationships?

Answer 2

entertainment-social
intense personal
borderline pathological

Question 3

who made levels of parasocial relationships

Answer 3

McCutcheon

Question 4

what is the intensity of the entertainment-social stage

Answer 4

least intense stage - celebs are a fuel of entertainment and social interaction. Good for gossip amongst friends

Question 5

what is the intensity of the interpersonal stage

Answer 5

intermediate - greater personal involvement - frequent obssesive thoughts , perhaps even considering them to be soulamtes

Question 6

what is the intensity of the borderline-pathological stage

Answer 6

strongest level of worship- uncontrollable fantasies and extreme behaviours - large sums if money on celebrity objects - or doing some illegal act for them

Question 7

who made the absorption addiction model

Answer 7

McCutcheon

Question 8

what did McCutcheon contribute to addiction model

Answer 8

linked levels approach to the deficinies in peoples own personal lives. e.g., people may lack self-esteem and have an intense relationship with a celeb to fill this void. allowing them to escape reality

Question 9

what is the absorption proponent?

Answer 9

• seeking fullfillment motivates them to become preoccupied with parasocial relationshp and identify with the celeb

Question 10

what is the addiction proponent?

Answer 10

• need to increase dose to gain satisfaction and commitmeng by feeling closer to the celeb
• this may lead to more extreme behaviours and delusional thinking
• stalking a celeb bc they think they want a relationship but someone is getting in the way - the manager maybe

Question 11

what have many psychologists said causes parasocial relationships

Answer 11

attachment difficultuies in early childhood

Question 12

how could bowlby relate

Answer 12

• bowlby stated in his attachment theory that early childhood relationships contribute to our template of relationships and bad relationships may lead to struggles later
• such as seeking fullfillment in celebs

Question 13

how would ainsworth link

Answer 13

• Ainsworth - attachment types
• insecure resistatnt = parasocial

Question 14

why do insecure res have more parasocial

Answer 14

• because they seek fulfilment
• in a parasocial relationship they do not face the chances of rejection, breakup and disappointment that a real-life relationship would offer

Question 15

why does someone go from entertainment-social stage to the next (for McCutcheon)

Answer 15

There is a TRIGGER from a stressful life event or personal crisis

Question 16

what is McCutcheons model?

Answer 16

absorption-addiction model 2022

Question 17

what are the unhealthy attachment types?

Answer 17

insecure-resistant
insecure-avoidant

Question 18

would insecure avoidant engage in parasoical relationships?

Answer 18

they fear rejection in all relationships so might

Question 19

evaluate parasocial relationships

Answer 19

• maltby research support, found a correlation between stages of parasocial relationships and psychological development. E.G., borderline pathological had more psychotic states. This could support McCucteon claims that parasocial rleationships develop from an unhealthy psyche
• this is only a correlation
• McCuchteon = 299 people, self report, insecure attachment is no more likeley to be parasocial than secure attachment
• self - report