Parasocial interaction

Topicupdated 2025-11-18 22:12
Parasocial interaction

Parasocial interaction describes a one-sided psychological relationship where audiences form attachments to media personalities, such as influencers or television hosts, as if they were personal friends. This concept, first identified by Donald Horton and Richard Wohl in 1956, highlights how people can feel a sense of intimacy and connection with a persona despite having no reciprocal interaction with them. It is a common experience in the context of mass media and online platforms.

The term has gained significant cultural relevance as digital media and social platforms have intensified these one-sided relationships. With the rise of content creators and influencers, parasocial dynamics have become a frequent subject of discussion in psychology and media studies, examining their impact on audience behavior and mental health.

Parasocial has recently been in the news after being named the Word of the Year by the Cambridge Dictionary. Numerous media outlets reported on this announcement in November 2025, reflecting the term's increased public usage and relevance. This recognition underscores how the concept has moved from academic discussion into mainstream vocabulary, capturing a defining aspect of modern media consumption.

Brief generated by an LLM (DeepSeek) from Wikipedia and recent news headlines.

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