Relationships: Parasocial relationships

Question 1

Define a parasocial relationship

Answer 1

One sided unreciprocated relationship usually with a celebrity

Question 2

Outline parasocial relationships in psychology:

Answer 2

• Levels of parasocial relationships
• Absorption-addiction model
• Attachment theory

Question 3

Outline parasocial relationships in psychology:

- Levels of parasocial relationships

Answer 3

• Entertainment Social
  Source of entertainment to fuel social interaction and gossip
• Intense personal
  Intense thoughts and feelings for a celeb, believe they’re your soulmate
• Borderline Pathological
  Uncontrollable fantasies and extreme behaviour e.g. spending a lot of money on celeb item or breaking law to see them

Question 4

Outline parasocial relationships in psychology:

- Absorption-addiction model

Answer 4

Explains parasocial relationships as a way to make up for deficiencies in their own life
Absorption - focus attention on celerity and become pre-occupied by their existence. Identify with them
Addiction - Need to sustain commitment by feeling a stronger connection. Feel the celeb wants to reciprocate feelings but something is stopping them

Question 5

Outline parasocial relationships in psychology:

- Attachment theory

Answer 5

Insecure resistant - More likely to form parasocial relationship as avoids risk of rejection and the disappointment real relationships can bring

Insecure avoidant - reject both real and parasocial relationships

Question 6

Evaluate parasocial relationships:

Answer 6

• Contradictory research for attachment theory
  (study of 299 pps found no correlation between insecure resistant and parasocial relationships)
• Methodological issues (correlation not causation. self report techniques)
• Absorption addiction model explains characteristics but not how they develop
• Universal (schemed and Klimmt found lots of people had a parasocial relationship with Harry Potter all over the world)