Psychology professor dives into parasocial relationships in new book 

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — OCTOBER 18, 2024) Gayle Stever, professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, analyzes the dynamics of parasocial relationships in a new book, co-authored by David Giles, titled “Parasocial Experiences: Psychological Theory and Application.” The book, published with Oxford University Press, presents a combination of theoretical and applied approaches to parasocial relationships.  

Stever and Giles are well-revered in the field of parasocial relationships and previously co-authored “Understanding Media Psychology,” which is currently undergoing revision for a second edition with Routledge. Stever has been quoted in leading publications like Billboard and The Boston Globe with her expert analysis on parasocial relationships and how celebrities, artists, and media personalities are perceived by the public.   

Giles addresses theoretical traditions and how they relate to parasocial relationships, including psychoanalytic theory and dream analysis. Stever offers her insight from the participant observer, which she conveys through interviews with famous actors who have active fan groups, including Alexander Siddig, Nana Visitor, Robert Picardo, and Denise Crosby.  

Stever also explores the implications of a newer dynamic within parasocial relationships with the use of Cameo, a website where fans can purchase a custom-made video, for a fee, on a variety of topics from their favorite celebrities.  

“My work on parasocial attachment that started with my doctoral dissertation in 1994 and has continued as I have worked to establish this concept as distinct from the parasocial relationship is explored in a chapter linking classical attachment theory, like infant-caregiver or adult romantic attachments, to this newer form of media attachment,” Stever said.  

Stever said parasocial relationships have always existed in pop culture and the increase in access to like-minded fan communities on the internet has caused them to become an even more visible aspect of pop culture.  

“All one has to do is go back to the era of Elvis or Beatlemania to see that these influences in our culture have been significant as a part of mass media culture,” Stever said. “I would argue that while there might have been fewer celebrity targets, the followers for each of these were more numerous. Look at Michael Jackson, who sold more copies of “Thriller” in the 1980s. Celebrities of that scale are harder to find in a more niche market, although arguably Taylor Swift would meet that criterion. Does she have more followers than did Jackson? Hard to say, but possibly not. So, I would say not more prevalent, but perhaps more visible.”  

The book releases Oct. 25, 2024 with Oxford University Press.