Parasocial relationships

 

Parasocial relationships

Parasocial relationships are one-sided relationships where one person extends emotional energy, interest, and time towards an individual or group who is completely unaware of the person’s existence. Modern-day examples of such individuals or groups are famous personalities & celebrities. There exist people who invest and exert a lot of

energy and time into essentially having a one-sided relationship with celebrities. They know everything about their favorite celebrities. Celebrities have greater visibility in the world and their lives are often on display. But a celebrity will generally have little to no knowledge about a person essentially a stranger who actively invests time and energy in their life.

Parasocial relationships can help create a community space for like-minded people to bond over their shared interests & appreciation for a particular celebrity. It might even be possible for an individual to interact with his or her favorite celebrity provided the celebrity’s fame is of a smaller scale that helps make them accessible. Engaging in parasocial relationships can act as an escape for many. If the parasocial relationship is approached with a healthy mindset, it can be harmless. Some celebrities can be positive role models.

Parasocial relationships are formed or strengthened in similar ways to real relationships. A person feels a sense of closeness or intimacy with the celebrity they admire. This might be due to the perceived authenticity or relatability of the celebrity. This can be further strengthened if the celebrity shares personal stories & intimate details of their lives. Deeper & strong emotional secrets or stories evoke powerful & intense emotions in the listener. As time goes one a person might develop intense emotions towards the celebrity and come to think of the celebrity as a friend or even as a family member. In many cases, people also view celebrities as potential ideal romantic partners. 

One of the problems with parasocial relationships is that the lives of celebrities and public figures are rarely actually transparent. Most often it may seem as though we know everything about a particular celebrity through their social media, interviews & professional work. But this is usually further from the truth. In reality, a celebrity's public image is highly manufactured no matter how authentic the celebrity seems. PR agencies work round the clock to build a perfect narrative for a celebrity. 

Social media can depict an incomplete, possibly false & glamorized version of a celebrity’s life & personality. A team of hairstylists, stylists, makeup artists, speaking coaches & managers help create the celebrity that we finally get to see on TV, in movies, in YouTube videos & on social media. Essentially, this can mean that the celebrity, who an individual is in a one-sided relationship with, may not even be a “real person”, that is, may not even be who they claim to be.

Additionally, the medium through which celebrity lives are accessed is problematic. There is a physical separation between individuals in a parasocial relationship. The nature of real & personal human interactions in actual relationships is fundamental to the validity of the relationships. In other words, proximity offered in real-life relationships is vital. People in parasocial relationships usually create an image of what that celebrity is like as a person. This false image can hurt the celebrity and the people too when it is proven to be untrue.

The celebrities in question can also suffer due to parasocial relationships. Parasocial relationships are not fully formed relationships. The rules that surround such relationships haven't quite been established yet. So, the line is blurry in terms of what can be said and what can't be said. There is confusion related to what can be done and what cannot be done. It is not known what expectations to have and what expectations cannot be had. Reactions & responses from fans who adore them & have parasocial relationships with them, can many a time be undesirable behavior, dramatic & also dangerous. Celebrities have been stalked & harmed by “fans”.

In conclusion, I feel investing time and energy in real relationships is far more beneficial & worthwhile. Parasocial relationships do not offer anything that can truly impact one’s life. 

Parasocial relationships can feel stronger and more real than they are. But they are ultimately fantasies. And it is vital to distinguish between fantasy & reality especially when there can be real consequences.