Parasocial Relationships: Absorption-Addiction Model

Question 1

parasocial relationship

Answer 1

Parasocial relationships = one-sided unreciprocated relationships where an individual is attracted to another person (usually a celebrity), who is usually unaware of their existence.

Number of exp of why some people develop parasocial relationships.

Question 2

what are the explanations

Answer 2

absorption-addiction model

attachment theory exp

Question 3

who proposed absorption addiction model

Answer 3

McCutcheon et al (2002)

Question 4

absorption-addiction model
- absorption

Answer 4

One exp of PSRs is the ‘absorption addition model’: McCutcheon et al
(2002)

When people have perceived deficiencies in their own lives (eg lack of fulfilment in everyday RS) they can become pre-occupied with a celebrity and identify w them in order to achieve this sense of fulfilment (absorption).

Question 5

absorption-addiction model
- addiction

Answer 5

If the ind feels they need to sustain their commitment to the RS by feeling stronger and closer involvement, this can lead to more extreme behaviours/ delusional thinking (addiction).

Question 6

absorption-addiction model
- levels

Answer 6

The model explains PSRs in terms of ‘levels of parasocial relationships’ which is a three step description of PSRs in terms of increasing strength:

1. entertainment-social
2. intense-personal
3. borderline-pathological

Question 7

entertainment social

Answer 7

least intense level of celebrity worship

fans are attracted to a favourite celebrity and will learn about / keep up with them for the purpose of entertainment and gossip.

Question 8

intense-personal

Answer 8

intermediate level of celebrity worship

reflects a greater sense of personal involvement with the celebrity.

An individual may have frequent obsessive thoughts and intense feelings about them.

Question 9

borderline-pathological

Answer 9

The strongest level of celebrity worship

characterised by uncontrollable fantasies and extreme behaviours.

eg. might include spending large sums of money on a celebrity-related object.

Question 10

absorption addiction model
- motivating factors

Answer 10

According to the AAM, someone who initially has an entertainment-social orientation to a celebrity may become more intensely involved due to a personal crisis or stressful life event.

the motivating forces driving the increased absorption may eventually become addictive, leading to more extreme behaviours and delusional thinking in order to sustain feelings of satisfaction and fulfilment gained from the PSR.

Question 11

Evaluate AAM
STRENGTHS

Answer 11

P) Support from Maltby et al (2005)
E) 14-16 females with poor body image also reported an intense-personal PSR with a female celebrity whose body shape they admired.
L) supports correlation between the level (type and intensity) of celebrity worship and perceived deficiencies in their own lives

P) research suggests the AAM is universal.
E) Schmid and Klimmt (2011) studied fans’ feelings towards Harry Potter in Germany (individualist culture - emphasises the needs of the individual) and Mexico (collectivist culture - emphasises the needs of the individual).
E) fans in both countries had very similar patterns of PSRs with Harry Potter, regardless of their cultural norms and values.
L) universal and accurately reflects PSRs for a wide range of people across cultures -> reliable

Question 12

Evaluate AAM
LIMITATIONS

Answer 12

P) better a description of PSRs than an explanation
E) able to describe characteristics of people who are absorbed by and addicted to celebrity (e.g. borderline-pathological) but unlike attachment theory, it isn’t able to explain how such characteristics develop.
E) percieved deficiencies is why, but not HOW
L) limited as an exp, question validity of the levels

P) all exp of based on flawed research
E) generally use self-report-techniques eg. questionnaires -> social desirability bias
L) not entirely honest about their thoughts/feeling towards celebrity
L) decrease internal validity

P) much research into PSR uses correlational data
E) only establish a relationship between two co-variables, cannot say that one co-variable ‘caused’ the change in the other.
E) example, just because they are linked does not necessarily mean that perceived deficiencies ‘caused’ the fan worship.
L) misleading