Murray State University

Don’t You Know That They’re Toxic: Parasocial Attachments and Fictional Relationships

Grade Level at Time of Presentation

Senior

Major

Psychology

Minor

Chemistry and Biology

Institution

Murray State University

KY House District #

5

KY Senate District #

1

Department

Department of Psychology

Abstract

Problem or Major Purpose. Parasocial relationships are one-sided interactions individuals have with fictional characters or famous celebrities (Derrick et al., 2008). Parasocial relationships can be beneficial for the exploration and development of one’s own romantic emotions, sexuality, or ideal self (Derrick et al., 2008; Erikson & Dal Cin, 2018). Conversely, there may be drawbacks such as unrealistic expectations and dysfunctional beliefs (Spiranec, 2018). For example, the young adult genre often contains harmful tropes that expose the audience to dysfunctional relationship behaviors such as portraying abuse as romantic, normalizing slut shaming, and fetishizing virginity (Spiranec, 2018). The current study examines the relationship between Parasocial attachment and acceptance of dysfunctional relationship behavior, in fictional characters.

Procedure. Participants completed an online survey that asks them to choose their favorite fictional character in a relationship, and how much they enjoy the couple. Then, participants completed the Audience-Persona Interaction Scale (Auter, & Palmgreen, 1992) for their favorite character, the significant other, and the fictional couple as a whole to measure parasocial attachment. Participants also completed a Social Dysfunction Rating Scale (Margaret W. Linn et al, 1969) and the Relationship Assessment Scale (Hendrick, 1988) modified to rate the perceived quality of the fictional relationship. Finally, participants completed a measure of imagination needs (ipip.ori.org), the Empathy scale (Davis, 1980), to be examined as potential covariates.

Results and Conclusions. The results indicated a negative relationship between empathy and parasocial attachment to favorite characters. There was a positive relationship between parasocial attachment of favorite character and significant other and positive relationship between favorite couple and dysfunction in relationship. Then there was a positive relationship between dysfunction and the perceived idealness of the relationship. This shows that while people seem to know that the relationships they are watching are dysfunctional they still want to watch them.

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Don’t You Know That They’re Toxic: Parasocial Attachments and Fictional Relationships

Problem or Major Purpose. Parasocial relationships are one-sided interactions individuals have with fictional characters or famous celebrities (Derrick et al., 2008). Parasocial relationships can be beneficial for the exploration and development of one’s own romantic emotions, sexuality, or ideal self (Derrick et al., 2008; Erikson & Dal Cin, 2018). Conversely, there may be drawbacks such as unrealistic expectations and dysfunctional beliefs (Spiranec, 2018). For example, the young adult genre often contains harmful tropes that expose the audience to dysfunctional relationship behaviors such as portraying abuse as romantic, normalizing slut shaming, and fetishizing virginity (Spiranec, 2018). The current study examines the relationship between Parasocial attachment and acceptance of dysfunctional relationship behavior, in fictional characters.

Procedure. Participants completed an online survey that asks them to choose their favorite fictional character in a relationship, and how much they enjoy the couple. Then, participants completed the Audience-Persona Interaction Scale (Auter, & Palmgreen, 1992) for their favorite character, the significant other, and the fictional couple as a whole to measure parasocial attachment. Participants also completed a Social Dysfunction Rating Scale (Margaret W. Linn et al, 1969) and the Relationship Assessment Scale (Hendrick, 1988) modified to rate the perceived quality of the fictional relationship. Finally, participants completed a measure of imagination needs (ipip.ori.org), the Empathy scale (Davis, 1980), to be examined as potential covariates.

Results and Conclusions. The results indicated a negative relationship between empathy and parasocial attachment to favorite characters. There was a positive relationship between parasocial attachment of favorite character and significant other and positive relationship between favorite couple and dysfunction in relationship. Then there was a positive relationship between dysfunction and the perceived idealness of the relationship. This shows that while people seem to know that the relationships they are watching are dysfunctional they still want to watch them.