The Risks of Parasocial Relationships

"Parasocial relationships are one-sided emotional bonds where individuals invest their time, effort, energy, emotions, and feelings into a well-known media figure, such as a celebrity, influencer, or fictional character from a book or movie, who is not aware of their existence."

"Parasocial relationships are often characterized by an 'illusion of intimacy.' The affection sender—that is, the admirer—feels love, admiration, and attraction, and feels they know, trust, and have a personal friendship with the persona, despite the lack of direct, reciprocal, or face-to-face interaction."

"Sometimes, though, the energy exchanged between admirer and idol is reciprocal. The admirers gain energy from influencers, and the influencers may also gain energy from the love and affection of their fans, even if their personalities are mostly unknown to them."

Parasocial relationships involve one-sided emotional investments directed toward media figures, celebrities, influencers, or fictional characters. These bonds are characterized by an illusion of intimacy, where admirers feel they know and have personal connections with their idols despite lacking direct interaction. Followers may witness daily posts and activities of influencers on social media, creating a false sense of connection. However, parasocial relationships can sometimes involve reciprocal energy exchange, where fans gain emotional support from their idols while celebrities draw strength from fan affection. Notable examples include Selena Gomez and Britney Spears crediting their fans with providing emotional support during difficult periods.

Read at Psychology Today