INQ-260PY | Parasocial Relationships

Full Title: The Psychology of Parasocial Relationships

Topic Description:

Why do we sometimes feel as though favorite television and book characters, talk show hosts, and social media influencers are friends? Why does it hurt when a favorite television character dies? Why do we feel betrayed when celebrities we respect behave badly? In this course, we will explore these questions and others through the concept of parasocial relationships, which are the enduring bonds that can form with media personalities whom we never actually meet. We will explore how these relationships form, how they impact our psychological experiences and wellbeing, and the ways in which they resemble our two-sided relationships with other people

Counts as Global? No

Topic Approved: March 2021