Parasocial relationships:
Levels of parasocial, absorption addiction model, attachment theory explanation
Definition: One sided, unreciprocated relationship, usually involving a celebrity whereby the fan
gives lots of emotion, energy, and time.
Levels of parasocial relationships:
Entertainment social- Least intense level of celebrity worship, where the celebrity is seen as
entertainment and opportunity for social interaction e.g. (Giles) parasocial make good
source of gossip in the office.
Intense personal- greater personal involvement, large interest in celebrities’ life, frequent
obsessive thoughts, and intense feelings towards that person.
Borderline pathological- uncontrollable fantasies towards this person, willing to spend large
amounts of money on this person, willing to do illegal acts to express devotion.
Absorption-Addiction model
Parasocial relationships make up for deficits in real life relationships, low self esteem and stressful
life events can speed up the levels.
Absorption: seeking fulfilment in celebrity worship will motivate an individual to focus their
attention as much as possible on the celebrity, to become preoccupied with them.
Addiction: like drug medication, the individual must increase ‘dose’ to gain satisfaction. This leads to
delusional thoughts and extreme behaviours such as stalking in hope the celebrity will be interested.
Attachment theory of parasocial relationships
Psychologists have suggested that there is a tendency to form parasocial relationships in adulthood
because of attachment difficulties in early childhood.
Bowlby’s attachment theory suggested such early difficulties may lead to emotional troubles
in later life.
Ainsworth identified unhealthy attachment types (insecure resistant & insecure avoidant)
Insecure resistant are more likely to form parasocial because they have unfulfilled needs
met but in a relationship without threat of rejection. Insecure avoidants prefer to avoid
relationships altogether.
Evaluation (+/-) of parasocial relationships
Support for the absorption addiction model shows a link between celebrity worship and body image. Model suggests
deficiency such as body image can cause desire for parasocial relationship. Maltby assessed males & females 14-16years who
reported intense personal parasocial relationship with a celebrity whose body they admired. These adolescents (especially
females) had a poor body image. This supported the model’s prediction of an association between deficits and various types &
intensities of parasocial relationships.
Levels of parasocial, absorption addiction model, attachment theory explanation
Definition: One sided, unreciprocated relationship, usually involving a celebrity whereby the fan
gives lots of emotion, energy, and time.
Levels of parasocial relationships:
Entertainment social- Least intense level of celebrity worship, where the celebrity is seen as
entertainment and opportunity for social interaction e.g. (Giles) parasocial make good
source of gossip in the office.
Intense personal- greater personal involvement, large interest in celebrities’ life, frequent
obsessive thoughts, and intense feelings towards that person.
Borderline pathological- uncontrollable fantasies towards this person, willing to spend large
amounts of money on this person, willing to do illegal acts to express devotion.
Absorption-Addiction model
Parasocial relationships make up for deficits in real life relationships, low self esteem and stressful
life events can speed up the levels.
Absorption: seeking fulfilment in celebrity worship will motivate an individual to focus their
attention as much as possible on the celebrity, to become preoccupied with them.
Addiction: like drug medication, the individual must increase ‘dose’ to gain satisfaction. This leads to
delusional thoughts and extreme behaviours such as stalking in hope the celebrity will be interested.
Attachment theory of parasocial relationships
Psychologists have suggested that there is a tendency to form parasocial relationships in adulthood
because of attachment difficulties in early childhood.
Bowlby’s attachment theory suggested such early difficulties may lead to emotional troubles
in later life.
Ainsworth identified unhealthy attachment types (insecure resistant & insecure avoidant)
Insecure resistant are more likely to form parasocial because they have unfulfilled needs
met but in a relationship without threat of rejection. Insecure avoidants prefer to avoid
relationships altogether.
Evaluation (+/-) of parasocial relationships
Support for the absorption addiction model shows a link between celebrity worship and body image. Model suggests
deficiency such as body image can cause desire for parasocial relationship. Maltby assessed males & females 14-16years who
reported intense personal parasocial relationship with a celebrity whose body they admired. These adolescents (especially
females) had a poor body image. This supported the model’s prediction of an association between deficits and various types &
intensities of parasocial relationships.
