RELATIONSHIPS - Parasocial relationships

Question 1

what is a parasocial relationship?

Answer 1

A one-sided unreciprocated relationship, usually with a celebrity where the ‘fan’ expends a lot of energy, commitment and time.

Question 2

who identifies the 3 levels of parasocial relationship?

Answer 2

Maltby et al (2006)

Question 3

what are the 3 levels of parasocial relationship?

Answer 3

1. Entertainment-social
2. Intense personal
3. Borderline pathological

Question 4

define entertainment social?

Answer 4

• least intense level of celebrity worship
  -celebrities are viewed as sources of entertainment and fuel for social interaction

Question 5

define Intense-personal?

Answer 5

• intermediate level
  -greater personal involvement in a parasocial relationship with a celebrity
• obsessive thoughts and intense feelings

Question 6

define Borderline-pathological?

Answer 6

• strongest level of celebrity worship
• uncontrollable fantasies and extreme behaviours

Question 7

who proposed the absorption addiction model?

Answer 7

McCutcheon (2002)

Question 8

what is the absorption addiction model?

Answer 8

Explains parasocial relationship as total obsession in a celebrity’s life and addictive striving after a stronger involvement.

Question 9

define absorption in terms of the absorption addiction model?

Answer 9

Individual focuses their attention on the celebrity and become preoccupied with the celebrity and identify with them.

Question 10

define addiction in terms of the absorption addiction model?

Answer 10

individual increases their attention to the celeb in order to gain satisfaction. Leads to more extreme behaviours and delusional thinking.

Question 11

What is attachment theories explanation of parasocial relationships?

Answer 11

attachment difficulties during childhood = tendency to form parasocial relationship

• insecure resistant = more likely to form parasocial relationships = seek to have unfulfilled needs met
• insecure avoidant = avoid pain and rejection of relationship

Question 12

give strengths of research into parasocial relationships?

Answer 12

+RESEARCH SUPPORT FOR LEVELS
McCutcheon et al (2016) = used CAS to measure level of parasocial relationships = Ps who scored intense personal = increases degree of anxiety in intimate relationships. Ps with entertainment social level did not. = CELEB FANS CAN BE CLASSIFIED INTO 3 CATEGORIES.

+RESEARCH SUPPORT FOR ABSORPTION-ADDICTION = shows link between celeb worship and body image.
Maltby et al (2006) = found that girls who had poor body image = intense personal parasocial relationship with female celebs who had their ideal body image. = supports model prediction of association btw poor mental functioning and level of parasocial relationship

+ UNIVERSAL TENDENCY = Dinkha et al (2015) = in both individualist and collectivist cultures = people with insecure attachment type were more likely to form intense parasocial relationships = attachment type may be a universal explanation.

Question 13

give limitations of research into parasocial relationships.

Answer 13

• COUNTERPOINT for UNIVERSAL TENDENCY = McCutcheon (2006) = studied 299ps = attachment security did not affect likelihood of forming parasocial relationships = parasocial relationships are not necessarily a way of compensating for attachment issues.
• CAUSATION AND CORRELATION = most studies use correlational analysis = does not show causal relationships
  eg. McCutcheon = we cannot say anxiety in relationships causes borderline pathological parasocial involvement.