A parasocial relationship is a one-sided relationship where an individual invests time, energy, and interest in the life of celebrities.


Parasocial relationships are characterized by an imaginary intimacy with public figures. In a broader sense, it is an intense emotional attachment experienced by a person towards a celebrity or a media personality without any real-life interaction.

Understanding the dichotomy of parasocial relationships, we recognise their complexity and multifaceted impact on individuals.

Several media studies proved that individuals grappling with complex real-life relationships often find solace in parasocial relationships, using them as a means to escape from the challenges of personal lives.
Perhaps, some studies even concluded that parasocial relationships boost confidence and become a source of inspiration.
Read on to know what is a parasocial relationship and what it says about a person.

1. Parasocial attachment

Parasocial attachment refers to the emotional intimacy and bond experienced by the audience towards a favourite celebrity via media tools such as social media, TV, magazines, or a newspaper. The dominant sign of a parasocial attachment is that a public figure or a celebrity becomes a source of comfort and security for the person.

2. A desire for additional glimpses into the favourite celebrity’s life​

Unlike real-life interactions, proximity in parasocial relationships is achieved by staying updated with the personal lives of public figures. Common behaviours include excessively scrolling the pictures, reading about their career, upbringing, and personal life to form a close emotional bond with them.

3. Constant urge to be like them​

Individuals experiencing parasocial attachments feel a constant urge to be like their favourite celebrity. In parasocial relationships, celebrities are beyond just the source of inspiration. Moreover, individuals fantasize about living a life like that of their favourite celebrity. They motivate themselves to be as talented and hardworking as celebrities are. In such a scenario, a public figure’s popularity and fame make an individual fantasize about being ‘just like them’.

4. Advocating for them​

In parasocial relationships, individuals feel that it’s their job to defend their favourite celebrity. Perhaps, there’s zero tolerance for any negative remarks or judgements about media personalities. Criticism or judgement about their favourite public figure makes them feel agitated. Such individuals often express anger outbursts in a need to defend the celebrities.

​5. Considering them to be your inner circle

Obsessive thoughts on any public figure and the constant urge to scroll through their social media handle, and read more about them can make one feel that they share a close bond with a celebrity. However, that’s not true. Several research findings concluded that during COVID-19, the minimal in-person social interactions led to the rise of parasocial relationships due to the excessive consumption and use of social media.