Parasocial Relationships

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Attachment Theory

What are the key Features of Attachment Theory?

Behaviours

• Proximity Seeking
• Secure Base
• Protest of disruption

Proximity Seeking

• What would this look like

Proximity Seeking

• Leets et al
• Changing schedules to watch them
• attempting to contact them

Secure Base

• What would this look like?

Secure Base

• Little chance of rejection
• secure base to explore other relationships in a safe way

Protest Disruption

• What would this look like?

Protest Disruption

• Raw emotion at the loss of the attachment figure

Eastenders

George Micheal

Carrie Fisher

What were the 3 main types of attachment?

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• Secure
• Insecure Resistant
• Insecure Aviodant

How do you think Attachment Type would influence PSR

Anxious Ambivalent / Resistant

• Cole and Leets
• Most likely to enter into a PSR
• Concerns others will not reciprocate
• PSR will satisfy unrealistic and unmet needs

Avoidant

• Least likely
• find it difficult to form intimate relationships
• so avoid real or imaginary relationships

The Absorption Addiction Model

Entertainment

• The least intense level
• keep up with - read and learn about celebs
• entertainment and gossip

Intense-Personal

• deeper level
• intense compulsive and intense feelings
• "I love to talk with others who admire my favourite celeb

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Borderline Pathological

• empathise with celeb success and failure
• identify with celeb and engage in uncomfortable behaviours and fantasies
• "if I walked in their house they'd be pleased to see me"

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From Absorption to Addiction

Absorption Model

• introverted - difficult social situation - become absorbed by celebs (McCutcheon 02)
• Leads to believing they have a special relationship
• motivational forces become addictive
• progressively stronger behaviours to stay connected

Research Support

Lonliness

Personality

Attachment Style

Culture