What Is a Parasocial Relationship in Pop Culture? — Here’s What It Means

The term “parasocial relationship” was coined in 1956 by social scientists Donald Horton and R. Richard Wohl to describe a phenomenon they noticed at the dawn of the first “Golden Age” of television. Huffington Post says the phrase refers to the “illusion of a face-to-face relationship” audience members have with performers, which creates the idea of intimacy at a distance.

Teen Vogue defines a parasocial relationship as “a long-term attachment to a media figure (a blogger, an idol, or even a politician) based on what a person ‘knows’ or understands about that figure over time.” The outlet also writes that “we develop parasocial relationships based on repeated interactions with these figures on social media or on television that make them seem relatable and accessible rather than far away from us ‘regular’ people.”

Some say that parasocial relationships can have good outcomes, such as helping teens figure out their identities or develop higher self-esteem. Both men and women benefit from parasocial relationships, but ultimately, in the case of high-profile celebrities, sometimes parasocial relationships become a paradox.

Celebrities end up with attached and invested fanbases that cause issues when the stars need space the most, such as after a divorce or while in rehab. There are more than a few recent examples in pop culture of parasocial relationships, including comedian John Mulaney and Steve from the children’s show Blue’s Clues.

Although most of today’s target audience for Blue’s Clues does not remember the original host, in a video posted to Nick Jr.’s Twitter account on Sept. 8, 2021, Steve Burns explained his disappearance from the show back in 2002. At the time of his departure, many young fans were startled and upset when Steve’s absence was never explained.