What Is a Parasocial Relationship?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of Parasocial RelationshipsAre Parasocial Relationships Healthy?How They DevelopCausesImpact of Social MediaA Word From Verywell

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Table of Contents

Types of Parasocial Relationships

Are Parasocial Relationships Healthy?

How They Develop

Causes

Impact of Social Media

A Word From Verywell

Close

A parasocial relationship is a one-sided relationship that a media user engages in with a media persona.

While the research on parasocial relationships typically focuses onfriendship-like bonds between a media user and a favored media persona, media users may also form negative parasocial relationships and even romantic parasocial relationships with different media figures.

History of Parasocial RelationshipsDonald Horton and R. Richard Wohl originated the concept of parasocial relationships in 1956, when they published their seminal article “Mass Communication and Para-Social Interaction: Observations on Intimacy at a Distance” in the journalPsychiatry.

History of Parasocial Relationships

Donald Horton and R. Richard Wohl originated the concept of parasocial relationships in 1956, when they published their seminal article “Mass Communication and Para-Social Interaction: Observations on Intimacy at a Distance” in the journalPsychiatry.

Parasocial relationships can exist in a number of different forms. Oftentimes, these different forms may represent different stages of this type of relationship:

Parasocial Interactions

Parsocial interactions are defined as the approximation of “conversational give and take” between a media user and media persona. Unlike parasocial relationships, which extend beyond a single media interaction and psychologically operate much like areal-life relationship,parasocial interactions take place exclusively while interacting with a persona via media and psychologically resemble real-life face-to-face interactions.

For example, if you feel like you’re one of the gang while watching the characters fromFriendsspend time together at the Central Perk, you’re experiencing a parasocial interaction. If you continue to think about Rachel, Chandler, Monica, or one of the other members of the group after you’ve finished the episode, maybe even reference their behavior on the show as if they are someone you know, you’ve formed a parasocial relationship with thatFriendscharacter.

Parasocial Interactions vs. Parasocial RelationshipsDespite the differences between these concepts, scholars often used the ideas of parasocial interactions and parasocial relationships interchangeably, leading to confusion in the research literature. More recently, however, scholars have concluded that although parasocial interaction and parasocial relationships are related, they are distinct concepts.

Parasocial Interactions vs. Parasocial Relationships

Despite the differences between these concepts, scholars often used the ideas of parasocial interactions and parasocial relationships interchangeably, leading to confusion in the research literature. More recently, however, scholars have concluded that although parasocial interaction and parasocial relationships are related, they are distinct concepts.

Parasocial Attachments

Like parasocial interactions and relationships, parasocial attachments function similarly to attachments in real-life and, therefore, an important component of parasocial attachments is proximity seeking.

Parasocial relationships can impact people in several ways. Some of these influences can be negative, but there can actually be some benefits to this type of relationship

Potential Drawbacks

In a recent review of the literature, Researchers have found, for example, that having a parasocial relationship with a media personality can influence an individual’s:

This influence may be positive or negative depending on whether the parasocial relationship with the media figure is positive or negative.

Potential Advantages

Parasocial relationships can certainly have drawbacks, but they may also have some benefits as well. Some of the positive effects include:

Recap

How Do Parasocial Relationships Form?

Like in-person relationships, parasocial relationships start when someone meets and gets acquainted with a media persona. This initial parasocial interaction might involve seeing the individual on a tv show or movie, following them on social media, or even interacting with them online or in real life.

Moreover, if the parasocial relationship ends, either because the media figure dies, the show ormovieseries they appear in ends, or the media user decides they no longer wish to engage with the media persona, the media user can go through a parasocial breakup.

Why Do We Form Parasocial Relationships?

It may seem strange that people form parasocial relationships despite their lack of reciprocity, but it’s important to remember that humans are evolutionarily wired to make social connections. Media is a relatively recent development in human history and hasn’t yet had an outsized impact on our evolution, Instead, the social characteristics we’ve evolved to ensure we form interpersonal relationships have been extended to media use.

However, our brains never evolved to distinguish between people we see and hear through media and those we see and hear in our real lives. Therefore, we process and respond to these encounters similarly,leading to parasocial phenomena in all its forms.

While psychological research has sometimes attempted to pathologize parasocial relationships, most scholars now agree that engaging in parasocial connections is normal. 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?

The Social-Parasocial Continuum

As a result, researchers have proposed that parasocial and social relationships should be seen as operating along a continuum.

This can take the form of meeting a pop star after their concert or running into an actor while out shopping in Hollywood. However, the rise of social media has increased the likelihood that fans can gain access to their favoritecelebritiesonline.

While more research on parasocial relationships is needed, evidence suggests that these relationships can have downsides and potential benefits. Researchers believe that these relationships are normal and fairly common, but you should talk to a professional if your thoughts and behaviors about a media figure are causing distress or interfering with your ability to function normally.

13 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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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. 1st ed. Santa Barbara: Fielding University Press; 2020:119-144.

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