Parasocial Experiences in the Political Arena

As politics becomes increasingly personalized, research in parasocial relationships (PSRs) has begun to explore the effects of the public’s imagined relationships with political figures. This chapter provides an overview of this emerging area of study, beginning with a discussion of three primary strands of research on politically relevant PSRs. The first focuses on PSRs with politicians (e.g., Donald Trump) and examines how media and social media foster these parasocial experiences. The second looks at PSRs with media personae, including newscasters, pundits, and celebrities, who may shape audiences’ political perceptions and engagement. The third line of research turns to PSRs with characters in political TV shows (e.g., The West Wing), exploring how fictional politicians can have real-world influence. The chapter then discusses overlaps and distinctions between PSRs and other related predictors of political support, as well as current methods utilized to measure PSRs with politicians, and concludes with some recommendations for the future of study and theorization of the political impact of PSRs.