What Is a Parasocial Relationship, and Why Does It Matter?
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YEET Magazine
What Is a Parasocial Relationship, and Why Does It Matter?
A parasocial relationship is a one-sided bond in which a person feels a connection to a public figure who does not know them. The relationship is real to the person experiencing it, even though it is not reciprocal.
The concept was introduced in 1956 by researchers Donald Horton and R. Richard Wohl, who described the illusion of intimacy created by television personalities.
The phenomenon has become more common as social media has made public figures seem accessible. The same platforms that connect people to each other also connect them to celebrities who appear to be talking directly to them.
For related discussions, see why fans feel entitled to celebrities' private lives and why we mourn celebrities we never met.
What do you think? Have you ever experienced a parasocial relationship? Share your answer.
Source: YEET Magazine