Media Psychology PSYA4

1. Social-Psychological explanations
for the attraction of celebrities

2. 1) Parasocial relationships (AO1)
An individual is attracted to an individual is usually but the target
individual is usually unaware of the existence of the person who has
created the relationship. A fan does not usually have a ‘real’
relationship with a celebrity. They do not run the risk of criticism or
rejection as might the case in areal relationship.
What determines the likelihood of a parasocial relationship?
- Schiappa et al carried out a meta analysis of studies of parasocial
relationships. From this they concluded that parasocial relationships
were most likely to form with television celebrities who were seen
as attractive and similar in some way to the viewer. Additionally a
factor appeared to be that they were perceived as real or that they
acted in a believable way
- Schiappa et al believed that if the celebrity acted in a believable
way, viewers were able to compare how they would behave in
similar situations
- Some researchers have claimed that such parasocial relationships
are mainly an adolescent phenomenon
- Schiappa however found no evidence of age being a predictor of
their development

3. Evaluation of Parasocial relationships (AO2)
Strengths Limitations
 Sciappa et al’s research supports
that people who are more socially
active and motivated are more
likely to engage in parasocial
relationships than those who are
dysfunctional (formed on the
basis of loneliness like a lot of
people presume)
 Parasocial interactions with
celebrities offer many social
benefits, they provide models of
social behaviour and an
opportunity to learn cultural
values
 Researchers found that due to the
fact that people are exposed to
the same characters over again, a
benefit of this is a perceived
reduction in uncertainty about
social relationships
 Other researchers found that
people with low self esteem saw
their favourite celebrity as similar
to their ideal selves. Those with
high self esteem saw their
favourite celebrity as similar to
their actual selves
× Maltby et al found evidence of a relationship between attitudes to celebrities
and body image, among female adolescents. This was strongest in girls between
the ages of 14-16 and suggests that parasocial relationships with celebrities who
are perceived as being slim, with a good body shape may lead to a poor body
image and consequently may predispose them to eating disorders. No
relationship was found in male adolescents and research suggests that for
females, the relationship disappears in early adulthood
× Experiments vs self reports – most of the research on parasocial relationships
has simply involved just asking people about their attitudes to celebrities.
However one researcher argues that experimental manipulations may be more
effective in determining the causes of identification with a celebrity.
× Other researchers have found that experiments are a more reliable source for
parasocial relationships than just asking people about their attitudes towards
celebrities. Two viewing conditions were created a cinema environment and a
television, they found that identification with media characters was arose more
in a darkened cinema environment where viewers were isolated from everyday
reality. TV viewing did not invite identification as readily because the lights on
environment made viewers more aware of their identity's therefore preventing
them from merging with the characters seen on screen
× Some people are more vulnerable to the formation of parasocial relationships
through the concept of attachment style. Cole and Leets reported that
individuals with anxious ambivalent attachment were most likely, and avoidant
individuals least likely to enter into parasocial relationships. Anxious ambivalent
attachment is characterised by a concern that others will not reciprocate ones
desire for intimacy, they turn to TV characters as a means of satisfying their
unrealistic needs. People with avoidant attachment style, find it difficult to
develop intimate relationships and therefore are less likely to seek real life or
parasocial relationships.

4. 2) The absorption addiction model (AO1)
• According to this model most people never go
beyond admiring celebrities because of the
celebrities entertainment or social value.
However the motivational forces driving this
absorption may eventually become addictive,
leading the person to more extreme and even
delusional behaviours in order to sustain
satisfaction with the parasocial relationship they
have developed with the celebrity. Giles and
Maltby identify three levels in this process

5. Level 1 – Entertainment social
• Fans are attracted to a favourite celebrity
because of their perceived ability to entertain
and to become a source of social interaction
and gossip for example ‘learning the life story
of my favourite celebrity is a lot of fun’

6. Level 2 – Intense personal
• The aspect of celebrity worship reflects
intensive and compulsive feelings about the
celebrity. The obsession tendencies of fans are
often referred to in the literature for instance
‘I consider my favourite celebrity my soul
mate’

7. Level 3 – Borderline pathological
• This dimension is typified by uncontrollable
behaviours and fantasies about their
celebrities for example ‘if I walked through the
door of my favourite celebrities house he/she
would be happy to see me’

8. • Giles and Maltby suggest that the intense
personal dimension of celebrity attraction can
lead to the development of a passive
parasocial relationship. With the borderline-
pathological dimension, however the
relationship may go way beyond the
parasocial, with the person believing there is
areal relationship between themselves and
the celebrity

9. Evaluation of the absorption addiction model (AO2)
× Links to mental health: Maltby et al used the Eyenck
Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) to assess the
relationship between level of celebrity worship and
personality. They found that whereas the entertainment
social level was associated with extraversion, the intense
personal level was associated with neuroticism. As
neuroticism is related to anxiety and depression, this
provides a clear explanation as to why high levels of
celebrity worship are related to poorer mental health
 Maltby et al suggested that future research might
explore the implications of a reported connection
between the borderline-pathological level of celebrity
worship and psychoticism, as measure on the EPQ