Parasocial Relationships and Interaction Notes

Entertainment Theory Parasocial Relationships and Interaction • How many of us have mourned the loss of a beloved tv character? Or even feel we know a person we follow on Instagram or YouTube on a personal level? • Have you ever had a famous person like something you posted? • All of these things are indicators of terms referred to as parasocial relationships and interactions • Both of these terms related to a degree of involvement with media characters— they can be fictional or non-fictional • Parasocial Interaction • Feeling like you’ve engaged in a social interaction with a media personality • • Restricted to the single viewing episode • Repeated parasocial interaction leads to a parasocial relationship Parasocial Relationships • (Horton & Wohl, 1956) “an imaginary interpersonal relationship with a media character” (persona) • Parasocial interaction • Media characteristics that encourage PSI • Attractiveness of the character • Authenticity of the character • • • Intimacy of communication • Conversational style Parasocial relationship • The relationship that develops over time • Talking, thinking about, missing them Parasocial breakup • TV show comes to an end • Character leaves • Character becomes engaged o Affective Disposition Theory • Assumption: The goal of watching entertainment is to enjoy it • Affective Disposition: Do we like the character (positive affective disposition) or do we dislike the character (negative affective disposition)? • • Our Affective Disposition is a result of moral judgements about characters Media enjoyment is a result of characters we perceive as ‘bad’ lose, and those we see as ‘good’ triumph • What is an example of movies where this trope takes place? Paradoxes/Counter Evidence • Why are other media that go against this dynamic successful? • Good guy doesn’t always win • Immoral characters aren’t always disliked Extended Disposition Theory • Why do we like antiheroes? • Moral disengagement • Develop new schemas Moving Beyond Hedonism (Non hedonic entertainment) • Do we always need to derive ‘pleasure’ from our media experiences? • Oliver & Raney (2011) say nope! • Seeking eudaimonia • • “ponder life’s meaning, truths, and purposes,” p. 985 • Seeking insight into the human condition • Reflection, introspection, contemplative How is meaningful entertainment unique? • Affective experiences • Mixed affect • A focus on virtues & moral emotions • Distinct physical sensations • Motivational outcomes Media and Persuasion Elaboration Likelihood (AKA the Elm) • Petty and Cacioppo (1986) • Dual process model • Two routes • Central • • Peripheral • • Heuristic processing Central route processing • • Systematic processing Deeper consideration for the message Evaluation of content and its merits • More resistant, but longer lasting attitude change and has more predictive power • Peripheral route processing • Superficial • Relies on cues (who is speaking, production attributes of the message, etc) • Easier to persuade, but shorter lasting change Determinants of route: • Motivation • Attitudes • Perceived personal relevance • Need for cognition • • Devote more time to cognition Ability • Time • Attention • Familiarity Theory of Reasoned Action • Looks at the relationship between attitudes and behaviors • Three main factors found to influence behavioral intentions and performed behaviors • Behavioral beliefs • Normative beliefs • Control beliefs o Using Reasoned Action to inform Media Ideas • Identify motives for action • Identify messages that can change attitudes • • What are the advantages/disadvantages of a behavior? • Change beliefs about consequences of action • Change evaluations about consequences • Change subjective norms • Change motivations to comply with subjective norms Identify target audiences • Primary? • Secondary? o Media Applications • Advertising • Campaigns Entertainment Education Spiral of Silence • Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann (1974) • Why are some groups more outspoken, and others less so, during forums for public opinion? • According to Neumann: “people who have believed that they hold a minority viewpoint on a public issue will remain in the background where their communication will be restrained; those who believe that they hold a majority viewpoint will be more encouraged to speak.“ • People may remain silent to protect personal and relational goals Assumptions of the Theory • Fear of isolation • Assessing the climate • Quasi-statistical sense • Pluralistic ignorance