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MINI PSYCHOLOGY 101 LESSON parasocial relationships!!
WHAT IS IT? a parasocial relationship is a one-sided, NON-RECIPROCATED relationship, often with a celebrity. they are strong emotional bonds we create with people we don't know personally.
WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? there's lots of reasons! the absorption addiction model suggests that we pursue these types of relationships because we have emotional deficits in our own life and this is how we cope.
another reason is one-sided relationships negates the chance of rejection and empowers us to model and identify with our love objects. it's not a bad thing! it's okay to want to emulate good qualities we like in our favs!
WHEN THEY BECOME HARMFUL these relationships are, as i've said, one-sided. the person doesn't know us and we don't know them. the lines become blurry and we can start to feel personally attacked when they do, say, or engage in ways we don't agree with.
this is particularly damaging to our love object because we, out of scorn or what we feel as betrayal, can spread false narratives about them, can turn around and say we hate them, defame their character, reach out to THEIR friends to defame them, etc.
HOW DO I STOP? i'm so glad you asked, person following my twitter account! some reminders: it's okay to form these kinds of bonds with your favs! really! it's perfectly normal to attach to someone who puts so much of themselves out there.
HOWEVER. we are fans, full stop. we are not their friends. we don't get to call them personal nicknames to their faces, we don't get to comment on their life choices in a negative way. we don't get a say. we exist only to support them, and hold them accountable IF they need it.
it's honestly perfectly healthy to form these kinds of attachments. it boosts serotonin, oxytocin,and dopamine (happiness hormones!) when we see people we love, and can really help those of us prone to depression and loneliness. it's good!
just be very aware that it is ONE SIDED and our love object does not know who we are like that and DOES NOT reciprocate.
END OF THREAD hope this was helpful? do some googling; it's pretty interesting stuff! also if u want me to explain any other therapy and/or psychology terms, disorders, anomalies, etc, let me know. these are fun.
