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Parasocial Relationships | Psychology Today New Zealand

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It’s increasingly common for someone to be diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD or autism as an adult. A diagnosis often brings relief, but it can also come with as many questions as answers. Verified by Psychology Today Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff Parasocial relationships refer to one-sided relationships in which a person develops a strong sense of connection, intimacy, or familiarity with someone they don’t know, most often celebrities or media personalities. These relationships exist only in the mind of the individual, who experiences a bond despite the lack of reciprocity. The term was coined by psychologists Donald Horton and R. Richard Wohl in 1956 when televisions became widely available, they noted that TV viewers began to develop the “illusion of intimacy” with the characters on the screen. Although parasocial relationships are inherently imaginary, they can feel real for the person experiencing them. An individual may see in, or project onto, a celebrity a range o

Parasocial Relationships | Psychology Today New Zealand Skip to main content Parasocial Relationships Reviewed by Tyler Woods on November 17, 2025 What Are Parasocial Relationships? Parasocial relationships refer to one-sided relationships in which a person develops a strong sense of connection, intimacy , or familiarity with someone they don't know, most often celebrities or media personalities. These relationships exist only in the mind of the individual, who experiences a bond despite the lack of reciprocity. The term was coined by psychologists Donald Horton and R. Richard Wohl in 1956 whe

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