Description
Book SynopsisParasocial Romantic Relationships: Falling in Love with Media Figures explores how, why, and to what effect individuals develop romantic feelings toward people they “know” from the media. These imaginary, one-sided relationships, dubbed parasocial romantic relationships, are both profound and pervasive, Riva Tukachinsky Forster argues. These relationships can take many forms, including adolescents who develop celebrity crushes on popular music artist, anime enthusiasts who “marry” their favorite characters, and fanfiction authors who insert themselves into narratives as romantic interests of the protagonist. Through analysis of surveys, in-depth interviews, and historical examples, this book advances our understanding of parasocial romantic relationships on both a sociocultural and a psychological level. The data and theories analyzed offer insights into how individuals can become romantically engaged with people they do not actually know, some of whom may not even exist in reality. Ultimately, Tukachinsky Forster argues that although these relationships exist only in the mind of consumers, they serve important psychological functions across different stages of life and can lead to significant consequences for individuals’ nonmediated relationships. Scholars of media studies, communication, psychology, and sociology will find this book particularly useful.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Preface
Chapter 1: Imaginary Love is Real
Chapter 2: From Pinup Girls to Bieber Fevers
Chapter 3: Who Falls in Love with Whom?
Chapter 4: How Do I Love Thee? Maintenance of Parasocial Romantic Relationships
Chapter 5: The Role of PSRRs in Adolescence
Chapter 6: The Effects of PSRRs on Romantic Beliefs and Dating
Chapter 7: Same-sex PSRRs and LGB’s PSRRs
Chapter 8: Beyond Adolescence: PSRRs Across the Life Span
Chapter 9: Too Much Love Will Kill You? PSRRs Between Normalcy and Dysfunction
Chapter 10: And in the End: PSRR Dissolution
Chapter 11: Concluding Remarks: Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?
Bibliography
Appendix I: Survey Sample Description
Appendix II: PSRR Measure Used in the National Survey
Appendix III: Interview Sample
Appendix IV: Interview Prompts
About the Author
