Explaining Parasocial Relationships: Absorption-Addiction and Attachment
A parasocial relationship is a one-sided relationship in which a person invests time, emotional energy and interest in a celebrity or media figure who is completely unaware that the person exists. McCutcheon, Lange and Houran's (2002) absorption-addiction model explains this as arising from a deficient sense of personal identity that can escalate into addictive behaviour, while a separate explanation draws on attachment theory, proposing that an insecure attachment style makes intense parasocial relationships more likely.
Before you start
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Method
- Learn the definition of a parasocial relationship: one-sided, since the fan invests time, energy and emotion but the celebrity has no knowledge of the fan's existence.
- Learn McCutcheon, Lange and Houran's (2002) absorption-addiction model: celebrity worship stems from a deficient or dysfunctional sense of self-identity, which the individual compensates for by becoming absorbed in a celebrity's life; in extreme cases this can progress to addictive behaviour, needing increasingly intense involvement to gain the same level of satisfaction.
- Learn the three levels of parasocial relationship measured by the Celebrity Attitude Scale, in order of increasing intensity, with one example behaviour for each: entertainment-social (mild interest, e.g. following and discussing a celebrity for fun and social conversation), intense-personal (moderate, compulsive/obsessive feelings, e.g. thinking about the celebrity constantly and viewing them as a soulmate) and borderline-pathological (the most extreme, uncontrollable fantasies and a willingness to behave in extreme or illegal ways on the celebrity's behalf).
- Learn the attachment explanation: insecure attachment types, particularly insecure-resistant, are associated with more intense parasocial relationships, since a parasocial bond carries no risk of rejection or abandonment and can act as a safe substitute for an unmet early attachment need.
- For an AO2 application question, match the fan behaviour described in the scenario to the correct level of the Celebrity Attitude Scale, justifying the choice by referring to the specific feature present (e.g. compulsive/obsessive thoughts indicate intense-personal; willingness to break the law indicates borderline-pathological).
- For an AO3 evaluation question, plan two points before writing, such as: the correlational nature of the research linking insecure attachment to celebrity worship (this cannot establish that insecure attachment causes parasocial relationships, since a third factor, such as loneliness, could underlie both) and the model's real-world/practical value (the absorption-addiction model helps identify individuals at risk of harmful, obsessive celebrity-related behaviour, informing support or intervention).
- Build each evaluation paragraph using point, evidence, elaboration, link back (PEEL): state the evaluative point, support it with the relevant evidence or reasoning, elaborate on the consequence for how convincing the explanation is, then link the sentence explicitly back to the absorption-addiction model or the attachment explanation.
Worked example
Jordan has never met or contacted a particular pop star, but he thinks about her constantly, feels a compulsive urge to check for news about her every day, and privately believes she is his soulmate. Using the Celebrity Attitude Scale and the absorption-addiction model, identify Jordan's level of parasocial involvement and explain your reasoning.
- Note the key details: constant thoughts, a compulsive urge to check for news daily, and a belief that the celebrity is a soulmate.
- Compare these to the three levels: entertainment-social involves only mild, social interest, which does not match; borderline-pathological typically involves uncontrollable fantasies and willingness to act illegally or extremely, which Jordan's behaviour does not show.
- Identify Jordan's behaviour as matching intense-personal, since it involves compulsive, obsessive thoughts and a belief the celebrity is a soulmate, without extreme or illegal intent.
- Link this to the absorption-addiction model: Jordan's constant thoughts about the celebrity show absorption in her life, and the compulsive, escalating need to check for news reflects the addictive component of the model.
- State the final answer: Jordan's behaviour matches the intense-personal level of the Celebrity Attitude Scale, consistent with the absorption stage of McCutcheon's model tipping into an addictive, compulsive pattern.
Practice questions
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Q1Define a parasocial relationship.Show answer
Answer: A one-sided relationship in which a person invests time, energy and emotion in a celebrity or media figure who is unaware the person exists.
Q2According to McCutcheon's absorption-addiction model, what underlying deficit drives celebrity worship?Show answer
Answer: A deficient or dysfunctional sense of personal identity.
Q3Name the three levels of parasocial relationship measured by the Celebrity Attitude Scale, from least to most intense.Show answer
Answer: Entertainment-social, intense-personal and borderline-pathological.
Q4Give one behaviour typical of the borderline-pathological level.Show answer
Answer: Uncontrollable fantasies about the celebrity, or willingness to engage in illegal or extreme acts on the celebrity's behalf.
Q5Which attachment type has been most strongly linked to intense parasocial relationships?Show answer
Answer: Insecure-resistant (anxious/ambivalent) attachment.
Q6Why might a parasocial relationship appeal to someone with an insecure attachment style?Show answer
Answer: It offers a relationship with no risk of rejection or abandonment, unlike a real relationship, potentially compensating for an unmet attachment need.
Q7What does the 'addiction' part of the absorption-addiction model describe?Show answer
Answer: The tendency for celebrity worship to escalate, requiring increasingly extreme involvement to achieve the same level of satisfaction, similar to tolerance in addiction.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a A Level Psychology exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Outline the absorption-addiction model as an explanation of parasocial relationships.
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Maya has recently started reading everything she can about a reality TV star, occasionally daydreaming about becoming friends with her, but Maya has never attempted to contact her and does not think about her constantly. Using the Celebrity Attitude Scale, identify Maya's level of parasocial involvement and justify your answer.
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Discuss the absorption-addiction model and the attachment explanation of parasocial relationships. (16 marks)
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See real A Level Psychology past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
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