Difference between revisions of "Parasocial Relationship"
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The process to forming a parasocial relationship is very similar to that of a real friendship.<ref name="The Development of Parasocial Relationships on YouTube">[https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1713/da74f55ec2edef19225b6db96e4dbeaf7201.pdf The Development of Parasocial Relationships | The process to forming a parasocial relationship is very similar to that of a real friendship.<ref name="The Development of Parasocial Relationships on YouTube">[https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1713/da74f55ec2edef19225b6db96e4dbeaf7201.pdf The Development of Parasocial Relationships | ||
| − | on YouTube]</ref> At the start of new friendships, frequent and regular communication “promote the reduction of uncertainty,” which in turn promote frequent and regular communication. Next, this “decreased uncertainty… promotes liking, or interpersonal attraction.” Finally, the positive correlation between interpersonal attraction and intimacy causes the friends to get closer. | + | on YouTube].</ref> At the start of new friendships, frequent and regular communication “promote the reduction of uncertainty,” which in turn promote frequent and regular communication. Next, this “decreased uncertainty… promotes liking, or interpersonal attraction.” Finally, the positive correlation between interpersonal attraction and intimacy causes the friends to get closer. |
This cycle is easily translatable to media, as more exposure to personalities reduces our uncertainty about them, increasing their appeal. As we grow to like these celebrities, we perceive ourselves to be in an intimate relationship, despite having never interacted with them. | This cycle is easily translatable to media, as more exposure to personalities reduces our uncertainty about them, increasing their appeal. As we grow to like these celebrities, we perceive ourselves to be in an intimate relationship, despite having never interacted with them. | ||
| − | In the information age, parasocial relationships are propagated by the changing nature of friend-like interactions themselves – rather than engaging with friends solely through face-to-face interactions, friends also perform themselves online, interact digitally with the online-counterparts of their friends by liking and commenting on each other’s’ posts, responding to messages and posting videos.<ref name="The Development of Parasocial Relationships on YouTube" /> Many friends even limit their interactions to exclusively digital ones. Coupled with the fact that social media performances can broadcasted at any hour of the day on personal pages, audiences are more-frequently and more-authentically interacting with their personalities, increasing the prevalence of parasocial relationships. On the personality's end, performing friend-like interactions through posts, pictures, likes, and messages is far less labor-intensive than actual relationship cultivation, and they can use bots, social media assistants, and other services to perform engagement with their audiences to propogate the parasocial relationship. | + | In the information age, parasocial relationships are propagated by the changing nature of friend-like interactions themselves – rather than engaging with friends solely through face-to-face interactions, friends also perform themselves online, interact digitally with the online-counterparts of their friends by liking and commenting on each other’s’ posts, responding to messages and posting videos.<ref name="The Development of Parasocial Relationships on YouTube"/> Many friends even limit their interactions to exclusively digital ones. Coupled with the fact that social media performances can broadcasted at any hour of the day on personal pages, audiences are more-frequently and more-authentically interacting with their personalities, increasing the prevalence of parasocial relationships. On the personality's end, performing friend-like interactions through posts, pictures, likes, and messages is far less labor-intensive than actual relationship cultivation, and they can use bots, social media assistants, and other services to perform engagement with their audiences to propogate the parasocial relationship. |
== History == | == History == | ||
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Despite its longevity, the term parasocial relationship was only coined by sociologists in 1956. They noted that audiences would act as though they were involved in a social relationship with their idols, despite never having met them. The sociologists initially speculated that this was due to a lack of social interaction, but this was later refuted. Today, the standard view on parasocial relationship formation is that they are closely related to friendship formation. | Despite its longevity, the term parasocial relationship was only coined by sociologists in 1956. They noted that audiences would act as though they were involved in a social relationship with their idols, despite never having met them. The sociologists initially speculated that this was due to a lack of social interaction, but this was later refuted. Today, the standard view on parasocial relationship formation is that they are closely related to friendship formation. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Ethics == | ||
| + | |||
| + | == "Good" Influencers == | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Oliver Thorn / PhilosopyTube === | ||
| + | Oliver "Ollie" Thorn is a British Actor and YouTuber of the channel PhilosophyTube, which explores everyday phenomena and social issues through a philosophical lens. Viewers cultivated a parasocial relationship with Thorn as an internet-friendly, humorous, and socially aware philosophy professor. Their parasocial relationship deepened when Thorn opened up in his video titled "Suic!de and Ment@l He@lth,"<ref name="Thorn Mental Health Video" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQNw2FBdpyE Suic!de and Ment@l He@lth].</ref> in which Thorn explored the philosophy of mental illness and patient rights while revealing that he, too, struggled frequently with the will to live. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Thorn continues to enjoy massive success as an educator on YouTube. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Natalie Wynn / Contrapoints === | ||
| + | |||
| + | == "Bad" Influencers == | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Olivia Jade Gianulli === | ||
| + | |||
| + | Olivia Jade Gianulli is a 19-year-old influencer and daughter of famed fashion designer Mossimo Gianulli and Lori Loughlin. She recently came into the national spotlight after it was revealed that her parents had paid over half a million dollars in order to ensure her acceptance into the University of Southern California as a crew team recruit - despite never having done the sport. To do this, they bribed athletic coaches, standardized testing proctors, and even went as far as submitting pictures of Gianulli on a rowing machine to prove her competence in the sport. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Prior to the scandal, young, mostly-female viewers had cultivated a parasocial relationship with her due to a combination of her relatable, down-to-earth personality and her luxurious lifestyle, which made audiences feel like they could be her best friend despite their differences. Comments on Gianulli's Instagram<ref name="Gianulli Instagram">[https://www.instagram.com/p/BcypviSFS6q/ Gianulli Instagram].</ref> showcase this attitude, with young women commenting "Beautiful!" and "You are amazing and gorgeous!" while others asked her where to get her dress and other clothing items she wore. Likewise, her attitude towards college was relatable to their attitudes: she wasn't sure whether it would be a good move, but ultimately, "mostly my parents wanted me to go [to college] because both of them didn’t go... I’m so happy they made me go." | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, Gianulli's parasocial personality as a relatable rich friend fell apart in light of the college-cheating scandal. Fans were slapped in the face with just how much privilege she held, and how her family was effectively able to purchase her way into USC. The fact that Gianulli was spotted on a USC Trustee's yacht as the scandal was exposed furthered outrage. Additionally, fans were disappointed that she had actively participated in the scandal by having someone fill out her application for her and posing for the crew photos. | ||
Revision as of 17:35, 15 March 2019
Parasocial relationships are "one-sided relationship that can occur between a media user and the media being consumed.”[1] Parasocial relationships typically occur between a celebrity and their audience – for example, an influencer and her followers. Through a combination of physical performance (talking informally, addressing the viewers in a conversational tone) and digital performance (posting photos that encourage audience engagement, commenting on posts, etc.) the audience are led to believe that the presenter knows them personally, creating an illusion of intimacy.
Contents
How do parasocial relationships form?
The process to forming a parasocial relationship is very similar to that of a real friendship.[2] At the start of new friendships, frequent and regular communication “promote the reduction of uncertainty,” which in turn promote frequent and regular communication. Next, this “decreased uncertainty… promotes liking, or interpersonal attraction.” Finally, the positive correlation between interpersonal attraction and intimacy causes the friends to get closer.
This cycle is easily translatable to media, as more exposure to personalities reduces our uncertainty about them, increasing their appeal. As we grow to like these celebrities, we perceive ourselves to be in an intimate relationship, despite having never interacted with them.
In the information age, parasocial relationships are propagated by the changing nature of friend-like interactions themselves – rather than engaging with friends solely through face-to-face interactions, friends also perform themselves online, interact digitally with the online-counterparts of their friends by liking and commenting on each other’s’ posts, responding to messages and posting videos.[2] Many friends even limit their interactions to exclusively digital ones. Coupled with the fact that social media performances can broadcasted at any hour of the day on personal pages, audiences are more-frequently and more-authentically interacting with their personalities, increasing the prevalence of parasocial relationships. On the personality's end, performing friend-like interactions through posts, pictures, likes, and messages is far less labor-intensive than actual relationship cultivation, and they can use bots, social media assistants, and other services to perform engagement with their audiences to propogate the parasocial relationship.
History
The formation of parasocial relationships can be dated back to the existence of humanity, as individuals formed bonds with popular figures both real and imaginary, such as politicians, gods, and spirits. Entertainment also provided a source of parasocial relationships as audiences bonded with their favorite characters in plays, films, and television.
Despite its longevity, the term parasocial relationship was only coined by sociologists in 1956. They noted that audiences would act as though they were involved in a social relationship with their idols, despite never having met them. The sociologists initially speculated that this was due to a lack of social interaction, but this was later refuted. Today, the standard view on parasocial relationship formation is that they are closely related to friendship formation.
Ethics
"Good" Influencers
Oliver Thorn / PhilosopyTube
Oliver "Ollie" Thorn is a British Actor and YouTuber of the channel PhilosophyTube, which explores everyday phenomena and social issues through a philosophical lens. Viewers cultivated a parasocial relationship with Thorn as an internet-friendly, humorous, and socially aware philosophy professor. Their parasocial relationship deepened when Thorn opened up in his video titled "Suic!de and Ment@l He@lth,"Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag;
invalid names, e.g. too many showcase this attitude, with young women commenting "Beautiful!" and "You are amazing and gorgeous!" while others asked her where to get her dress and other clothing items she wore. Likewise, her attitude towards college was relatable to their attitudes: she wasn't sure whether it would be a good move, but ultimately, "mostly my parents wanted me to go [to college] because both of them didn’t go... I’m so happy they made me go."
