About the lecture

In this lecture, we think about parasocial relationships, focusing in particular on: (i) the origin of parasocial relationships in Horton and Wohl’s 1956 paper as feeling as if you know someone through exposure to their life; (ii) the presence of parasocial relationships in modern times, affiliated primarily with celebrities in the media; (iii) the inherent lack of reciprocity in parasocial relationships; (iv) Giles and Maltby’s three stages of parasocial relationships being entertainment and social, intense personal, and borderline pathological; (v) the methods by which social media is a powerful promoter of parasocial relationships.

About the lecturer

Dr Martin Graff is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Life Sciences and Education at the University of South Wales, teaching social psychology, the psychology of relationships and online interaction, as well as research methods. Dr Graff’s research interests are in online relationships and interactions. Some of Dr Graff’s recent publications include 'How can you persuade me online? The impact of goal-driven motivations on attention to online information' (2020) and 'Can time spent on social media affect thin-ideal internalisation, objectified body consciousness and exercise motivation in women?' (2019).