Parasocial Relationships

Scientists have found that individuals with vulnerable narcissism tend to form deep, unreciprocated relationships with famous figures. This psychological coping strategy helps explain why these insecure individuals face a higher risk for extreme celebrity worship.

Can a video game change your mind about having kids? A new study suggests that emotional bonds with virtual characters in simulation games may boost real-world fertility desires among young adults.

Human attraction to fictional characters may follow the same evolutionary rules as real-life dating. A study of anime fans found that "waifus" and "husbandos" are selected based on physical and emotional traits that mirror real-world mate selection strategies.

People who strongly admire celebrities tend to score higher in materialism and vulnerable narcissism, according to a new study. The findings also suggest that feeling similar to a celebrity may play a key role in developing intense admiration.

People with celebrity crushes can feel jealous when their favorite media figure starts dating — especially if the new partner feels different from them.

Women with a playful, non-committal love style and a desire for new experiences are more likely to form romantic attachments to bad boy characters, which can enhance their sense of power and lead to vivid imaginative recollections.

Podcast listeners perceive hosts as authentic based on traits like relatability, spontaneity, and openness. These qualities create a sense of friendship and familiarity, leading listeners to feel they personally know their favorite hosts, despite never meeting them.

New research suggests that parasocial relationships with YouTube creators are more effective at fulfilling emotional needs than casual in-person friendships but are still less effective than close personal relationships.

People who imagine interactions with their favorite media figures or celebrities, known as parasocial relationships, experience increased empathy compared to those who imagine interactions with people they dislike. However, empathy levels were higher for real people compared to parasocial figures.

A recent study found that increased parasocial interactions with Donald Trump, where viewers form one-sided relationships with him as a media persona, correlate with more negative attitudes towards the former president.

A study revealed students with frequent personal thoughts about celebrities, a compulsion to learn more, consistent pursuit, threats of harm, and prone to boredom are likelier to engage in celebrity stalking.

A recent study published in Communication & Sport has unveiled intriguing findings about the influence of reality TV shows on viewers' health behaviors.

A recent study from West Virginia University revealed that celebrities don't inherently influence public perceptions of vaping's social acceptability. Instead, personal affinity for the celebrity and the desire to emulate them are pivotal in shaping these views.

New research sheds light on how audiences rely on romantic beliefs to evaluate infidelity committed by their favorite celebrities. The findings, published in the journal Psychology of Popular Media, provide insight into the nature of the relationship between romantic beliefs...

After watching a video meant for participants to build a relationship with the video creator and a video where the creator talked about his/her mental health issues, experimental groups scored lower on explicit prejudice assessments compared to controls who only...