Parasocial Relationships: Attachment Theory

Question 1

Attachment theory exp
- intro

Answer 1

The AT exp argues that an individual’s willingness to form a PSR with a celebrity is related to their attachments beliefs

attachment difficulties in early childhood may increase the likelihood of PSRs developing

Question 2

Attachment theory exp
- insecure resistant

Answer 2

INSECURE-RESISTANT att w/ main caregiver during infancy = most likely to develop PSRs.

This is because they need to have unfulfilled needs met, but in a RS that is not accompanied by the threat of rejection, break-up and disappointment that real-life relationships bring.

Question 3

Attachment theory exp
- insecure avoidant

Answer 3

INSECURE-AVOIDANT = least likely to enter into PSRs

they find it difficult to develop intimate relationships and so avoid both real and imagined intimacy

Question 4

Attachment theory exp
- secure

Answer 4

SECURE att = most likely to engage in real relationships and less interested in celebrities because they do not have an unfulfilled need for attachment.

Question 5

Attachment theory exp
- att behaviours

Answer 5

AT also argues att beh observed in infants are evident in PSRs too.

Proximity-seeking: individuals attempt to reduce the distance between themselves and the attachment figure (e.g. contacting a celebrity through fan letters or in person).

Separation anxiety: individuals have a severe emotional reaction to a celebrity being axed from a TV programme or when a series they star in comes to an end.

Question 6

Evaluate AT exp
STRENGTHS

Answer 6

P) Support from McCutcheon et al (2006)
E) measured attraction to celebrities as well as infant AT
E) adults w insecure AT had positive attitudes towards obsessive behaviours and stalking, and pathological AT have a tendency to stalk
L) implies that stalking behaviour is related to childhood att patterns

P) Support from Cole & Leets (1999)
E) adolescents with IR att more likely to have PSRs with television media personalities than those with secure and IA att
L) supports that IR att are more attracted to PSRs

Question 7

Evaluate AT exp
LIMITATIONS

Answer 7

P) Evidence against from McCutcheon et al (2006)
E) measured AT and celebrity-related attitudes in ppts.
E) ppts with insecure att no more likely to form PSRs with celebrities than ppts with secure att.
L) contradicts central prediction of Att Theory -> doubt validity

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 insecure childhood attachments ‘caused’ the fan worship.
L) misleading