Types of Parasocial Relationships
Parasocial relationships can exist in a number of different forms.
Are Parasocial Relationships Healthy?
Parasocial relationships can impact people in several ways.
Flashpop / Getty Images
Some of the positive effects include:
Recap
Parasocial relationships have drawbacks and some benefits.
Some people may be influenced by media personalities in negative ways.
How Do Parasocial Relationships Form?
Like in-person relationships, parasocial relationships start when someone meets and gets acquainted with a media persona.
Why Do We Form Parasocial Relationships?
In particular, humans tend to pay special attention to other humans' faces and voices.
Therefore, we process and respond to these encounters similarly,leading to parasocial phenomena in all its forms.
It is something that a majority of people experience.
It is also important to note that most people know that theirrelationshipswith media figures are not real.
However, this knowledge doesn’t prevent them from reacting as if they were.
Does Social Media Change Parasocial Relationships?
Nonetheless, new media, and especiallysocial mediahas surely changed the nature of parasocial relationships.
However, the rise of social media has increased the likelihood that fans can gain access to their favoritecelebritiesonline.
Liebers N, Schramm H.Parasocial Interactions and Relationships with Media CharactersAn Inventory of 60 Years of Research.Communication Research Trends.
2019;38(2):4-31.
Horton D, Wohl RR.Mass Communication and Para-Social Interaction: Observations on Intimacy at a Distance.Psychiatry.
2015;42(1):21-44. doi:10.1111/hcre.12063
Stever GS.
Processes of Audience Involvement.
In: Stever GS, Giles DC, Cohen JD, Myers ME.Understanding Media Psychology.
New York: Routledge; 2021:183-204.
2009;21(4):171-182. doi:10.1027/1864-1105.21.4.171
Giles D.Psychology Of The Media.
Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan; 2010.
Hu M.The influence of a scandal on parasocial relationship, parasocial interaction, and parasocial breakup.Psychol Pop Media Cult.
2006;50(3):502-523. doi:10.1207/s15506878jobem5003_9
Stever GS.
How do parasocial relationships with celebrities contribute to our development across the lifespan?.
In: Shackleford KE, ed.Real Characters: The Psychology Of Parasocial Relationships With Media Characters.
Santa Barbara: Fielding University Press; 2020:119-144.
Stever GS.Fan Behavior and Lifespan Development Theory: Explaining Para-social and Social Attachment to Celebrities.J Adult Dev.
2013;15(2):339-354.
