Reconceptualizing Parasocial Relationships For The Modern Era
Originally introduced by Horton and Wohl (1956), the term parasocial relationship was introduced to describe a type of relationship between a spectator and a performer. While parasocial relationships have evolved greatly over the last 65 years, since its inception, the accepted definition has remained relatively stagnant. Our research demonstrates how parasocial relationships have changed and presents evolved definitions for parasocial relationships and the characteristics that cause them. Like the definition of parasocial relationships, the spectator and performer are also further explored and defined within this research. The new terms presented are parasocialer—a fictional character(s) or real person(s) that facilitates the conditions for a parasocial relationship to form with a parasocialee—and parasocialee—the audience member who is engaged in a parasocial relationship with a fictional character(s) or real person(s)—a parasocialer. Horton and Wohl (1956) also defined persona(e). They explain that the persona provides a continuous relationship between what we now define as the parasocialer and parasocialee. The parasocialer’s appearance is an expected and dependable occurrence, that can be, planned for, as well as integrated into the routine of one’s life. Their fans, or parasocialees, ‘live with them’ and share the moments of their public life-and to some extent their private life away from the medium of interaction. The fans continued association with them acquires a history, and the accumulation of a perception of shared past experiences, which then gives additional meaning to the current medium consumption. This bond is primarily contextualized by allusions which lack any meaning for the casual observer and appear occult-like to the outside observer. In time, the parasocialee comes to believe that they know the persona more intimately and profoundly than others do; that the parasocialee understands the parasocialer’s character and appreciates the parasocialer’s values and motives. Currently, there is a need to update the definition to consider modern mediums of parasocial interaction. This research’s initial definition of parasocial relationship was: “Originally introduced by Horton and Wohl (1956), the term “parasocial interaction” (PSI) describes a one-sided mediated form of social interaction between the audience and media characters” (Leibers & Schramm, 2019, p.5). The original definition assumed that PSI lacked mutuality while real social interactions feature bidirectional communication. At the time, they could have not foreseen the technological advancements that have led to the bidirectional communication possible in a parasocial relationship. With websites such as Twitch.tv and YouTube, audience and media characters have the potential to regularly communicate with each other. The endless and effortless interactions available through modern mediums allow for parasocial relationships to develop and expand through the constant back-and-forth between the audience and media characters. (Lamoureux & Koch 2021). An updated definition, along with definitions of parasocial characteristics to support the definition of parasocial relationships, will be presented.
Isaac Lamoureux
MacEwan
Canada
Nicholas Koch
MacEwan
Canada