Parasocial Breakups: Measuring Individual Differences in Responses to the Dissolution of Parasocial Relationships

Cohen, Jacob T.

doi:10.1207/s15327825mcs0602_5

Cited by 166 publications

(190 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Sex differences in the strength of PSRs have previously been examined. However, although some research has found that women experience stronger parasocial relationships than men (Cohen, 1997;Cohen, 2003;Eyal & Cohen, 2006), other research has found no sex differences (e.g., Cole & Leets, 1999;Schmid & Klimmt, 2011;Tian & Hoffner, 2010;Turner, 1993). One explanation for these conflicting findings may be the type of parasocial relationship explored.…”

Section: Other Predictors Of Psromsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Parasocial Romance: A Social Exchange Perspective

Adam

Sizemore

2013

IJPR

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Parasocial relationships are one-sided relationships that people hold with media figures. Although it has been previously demonstrated that people often feel strong friendships with people that they have never met, parasocial romantic attachments have not been well-studied. In the current study, we examined reasons why people form parasocial romances from a social exchange perspective by surveying participants on perceived costs and benefits of both real-life and parasocial romantic relationships (PSROMs), and on the strength of their PSROMs. We found that participants who reported stronger PSROMs also reported greater perceived benefits (relative to costs) of PSROMs, and that these benefits are surprisingly similar to those received from real-life relationships (RLRs). The results suggest that parasocial relationships are formed for similar reasons as real-life relationships, but that there are some unique costs associated with PSROMs. This research helps to explain why people form romantic attachments with media characters.

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Section: Other Predictors Of Psromsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Parasocial Romance: A Social Exchange Perspective

Adam

Sizemore

2013

IJPR

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“…Several studies have examined responses to what J. Cohen (2003) termed "parasocial breakups"dthe feelings felt in response to the loss of these pseudo-friendships. On the whole, this research indicates that the grief experienced in response to the loss of parasocial friends mirrors the emotions felt in response to the loss of social friends, but is not as intense.…”

Section: Parasocial Breakups With Celebritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Finding meaning in a celebrity’s death: The relationship between parasocial attachment, grief, and sharing educational health information related to Robin Williams on social network sites

Cohen

Hoffner

2016

Computers in Human Behavior

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“…3. Other measurements tools that have been offered so far clearly aim to measure PSR, such as Gleich's (1997) scales of PSR quality, or the the Parasocial-BreakupScale by Cohen (2003). The Breakup-Scale consists of 13 items that assess users' anticipated distress and coping strategies linked to a potential loss of their favourite TV personality.…”

Section: Notesmentioning

confidence: 99%