9) parasocial relationships

What are parasocial relationships?

Relationships that are one sided where the celebrity is unaware of the fans identify or existence

Who developed the celebrity attitude scale?

McCuthceon et al (2002) and Maltby et al (2006) used it to identify 3 levels of parasocial relationships

What’s the entertainment social level?

Least intense level of celebrity worship where celebrities are vied as a source of entertainment and gossip

What’s the intense personal level?

Intermediate level which reflects greater personal involvement. It reflects intensive and compulsive tendencies of fans

What is the borderline pathological level?

Strongest level of celebrity worship such as fantasies and extreme behaviour. They develop empathy and also over identification

what is the absorption addiction model?

McCutcheon (2002) explains parasocial relationships form due to deficiencies people have in their lives such as poor psychological functioning. It allows for an escape from reality and a sense of fulfilment when real relationships don’t supply these. May have initial entertainment- social orientation to a celebrity that comes more intensively involved due to triggers.

What does absorption intel in the absorption addiction model?

Worship of relationships so that they become preoccupied with them and identify with them such as for seeking fulfilment or due to lack of Meaningful relationship

Parasocial relationship formation according to the attachment theory of explanation?

Formation of parasocial relationships late in life may be due to attachment issues in childhood, especially for children who experience early rejection may form parasocial relationships

Maltby et al (2003) research support for absoprtion-addiction theory?

He used a questionnaire to assess the relationship between parasocial relationships and personality. He found that intense personal level was associated with neuroticism (emotional/moody) which also related to anxiety and depression

Why does Maltby et al (2003) study have useful real world application?

Not only does it support the absoprtion addition model but highlights a way of identifying people at risk of parasocial relationships and psychological disorders and allow them to get the help needed

What research support is there for the link between insecure attachment and parasocial relationships?

Rain and Mar (2021) found that people with insecure attachment are more likely to form illusory parasocial relationships with TV characters

What research support is there for the Addiction absoprtion model having cross cultural support?

Schmid (2011) investigated whether there would be a diffrence in the parasocial relationships formed with with Harry Potter compared to Germany- individualistic and Mexico- collectivist. They showed similar rates of parasocial relationships in line with the AA model. Therefore the AA model may be widely generalisable