parasocial interaction
noun
an interaction that leads an audience to feel personally close to someone famous
What does parasocial interaction mean?
A parasocial interaction (or PSI) is a semblance of interpersonal exchange in which members of an audience come to feel that they personally know a performer they have encountered in mass media (movies, television, social media apps, etc.). Parasocial interactions are thought to have a psychological effect similar to that of face-to-face communication. Over time, PSIs with a performer may lead audience members to develop a parasocial relationship—a one-sided sense of connection with the performer.
Examples of parasocial interaction
Many Swifties are invested in Taylor’s romantic life and are cheering for her to find love and one day pick out a white dress. This interest and fantasy takes the form of a parasocial—or one-sided—relationship, where one party invests emotional energy and time, while the other person is unaware of the first person’s existence. While these can potentially become harmful, in most cases parasocial interactions are a source of escape, fun and fantasy.
—Angeline Close Scheinbaum, TheConversation.com, 17 Nov. 2023
Social media, especially TikTok, thrives on parasocial interaction and relatability. People are more likely to engage with content that feels like a FaceTime call instead of a newscast. If I want to be mentally engaged in politics in a polished way, I’ll turn on C-SPAN.
—Parasocial relationships are born out of parasocial interaction, or PSI. PSI is the process of engaging with a celebrity or influencer. You watch their content, perhaps even reach out to them. It’s likely you relate to them in some way; maybe their identity aligns with yours, or maybe you share similar attitudes.
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Where does parasocial interaction come from?
Parasocial interaction first appeared in the writings of American sociologists Donald Horton and R. Richard Wohl in the 1956 article “Mass Communication and Para-Social Interaction: Observations on Intimacy at a Distance.” The article describes how PSIs may gradually lead to the formation of a parasocial relationship.
How is parasocial interaction used?
Parasocial interaction is used primarily (and in a technical manner) in the field of psychology. However, the concept to which it refers has been written about with increasing frequency (and in more general publications) in the age of social media, which has given people greater opportunities to interact with celebrities, professional athletes, etc. So while the word is not new, it is suddenly new to many people.
