Ronquillo, Justin Andrew M.

August 21, 2021

18-0835 Essay 1
“A different type of relationship”- A relationship developed through entertainment:
Parasocial Relationship :
https://jronqs.wordpress.com/2021/08/21/a-different-type-of-relationship-a-relationship-developed-throug
h-entertainment/
In contrast to the type of relationship most of us are accustomed to, wherein we interact with each
other on a daily basis and give each equal time and effort, Parasocial relationships are developed between
the viewer and the entertainer through different mediums and can obviously have a potentially healthy or
unhealthy impact on both culture and society as a whole. According to Poindexter and Cook (2020),
Parasocial relationships at its core is a “one-sided relationship” wherein we give time, effort, and emotion
towards someone or at times something that entertains us - for instance, I am an avid fan of one of the
NBA’s most exciting players: Stephen Curry. As a result, during the NBA season, I tune in and spend
about 2 hours literally shouting at my device waiting for the Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry to
make another spectacular play. Even though I know he doesn’t hear me, nor does he know about my
existence, I still pour out energy and emotional support for him. I even follow him in his off-court
endeavors, with him signing his 4-year 200 million dollar contract, which elicits a sense of happiness for
me, knowing that he will still be playing with the same team for a very long time. This type of
“relationship” can also be seen with many other high-profile celebrities and entities like those who belong
in the realm of K-Pop for instance. BTS is supported by a literal ARMY of over 90 million fans around
the world, many of which follow the group’s every on-stage and off-stage endeavor as well. Ken Eisold’s
article: “The Entertainment Industry Becomes Entertainment”, talks about the idea of “A Permanent
Reality Show” wherein news of the entertainment industry turns into a form of entertainment itself. In the
context of parasocial relationships, this speaks to the development of what most fans are actually fans of,
which is not just the entertainment that an entity provides (through performance), but them as a person.
So, can such a relationship actually be called “healthy”? Surely supporting someone who doesn’t
even know you exist is pretty sad, but for me, I believe that this type of “relationship” between the
entertainer and audience can potentially count as both a mixture of hedonic and eudaimonic forms of
entertainment, as the viewer can be “entertained”, as well gather self-fulfillment from the entity they
support. Peter G Stromberg writes in his article: “Entertainment and Imitation” that “entertainment
engages the strong tendency for members of our species to imitate what we see and imagine.” I believe
such phenomena can also be applied in a parasocial relationship as well.
When I watch Stephen Curry, especially as a Filipino basketball player, seeing him sink
unbelievable shots against people who are twice his size is something that gives me motivation to further
improve myself physically and even mentally in the hopes of emulating him in the future. He is also
known as a God-fearing man and someone who always carries himself cordially off the court. Part of this
idea of a “healthy relationship” can also be applied to BTS and their giant fanbase; the ARMY. Their
lyrics are not only catchy but also contain messages which take aim against “modern problems”.
Off-stage, BTS is also known for its philanthropic acts and its members being promoters of social
responsibility as well. Which again, their huge fanbase can imitate, and potentially make a positive impact
in both culture and society. Once again half the determinant of a “healthy” parasocial relationship, would
be whether the character of the entity you look up to is actually morally good, and the other half? Well,
it’s you. I believe a parasocial relationship can be characterized as “unhealthy” once one stops using their
God-given intellect and reason.
When a person starts believing that a parasocial relationship can eventually transition into
something more, then I believe it starts to become unhealthy. Once somebody thinks that their relationship
with Steph Curry or Jungkook is somehow on the same level as those physically around them, then this
may be something that is characterized as an obsession. Being too attached to something or someone who
doesn’t even know you exist, is not only unhealthy but illogical as well. While this may seem unlikely to
happen with elite celebrities and athletes, as the distance between viewer and entertainer is clear, the
recent surge of live-streaming platforms like Twitch and to some extent Facebook live in the pandemic,
have reinvented what it means to have a parasocial relationship. With the existence of a chatbox, viewers
can feel as though they are communicating with streamers themselves, allowing for this unhealthy
development. Users on these sites are given even greater reason to believe that their relationship with the
streamer or entertainer can become something more. Furthermore, these live streaming sites have also
been a source of purely hedonic entertainment with some even broadcasting sexually explicit content.
You combine this with the existence of a chatroom, and a truly unhealthy form of a parasocial relationship
is sure to rise.
As future content creators and perhaps entertainers, taking into account the “relationships” or
connections you and your content can create is something we need to keep in mind especially when
thinking about the viewer. Thinking about what the viewer can take from your content is important when
trying to curate something that can leave a positive impact on both culture and society as a whole. We
must be able to create content that is both exciting and self-fulfilling in the hopes that the viewers can not
only enjoy hopefully emulate as well. The concept of a “parasocial relationship” is simply indicative of
the impact entertainment can have on individuals and perhaps eventually society as a whole.
 References:
Poindexter, M., & Cook, B. L. (2020, February 18). Parasocial Relationships: The Nature of Celebrity
Fascinations. Retrieved from
https://www.findapsychologist.org/parasocial-relationships-the-nature-of-celebrity-fascinations/

Sayre, S., & King, C. (2010). Entertainment and society: Influences, impacts, and innovations. New York:
Routledge.
Entertainment and Imitation. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/sex-drugs-and-boredom/200911/entertainment-and-i
mitation?amp
The Entertainment Industry Becomes Entertainment. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hidden-motives/201007/the-entertainment-industry-b
ecomes-entertainment