parasocial

[par-uh-soh-shuhl]

adjective

1. of or relating to the connection or imagined connection between a regular person and a fictional character, celebrity, or other public figure: Fans naturally project their values into parasocial relationships, but they are bound to be disappointed one day when their idols aren't who they’ve built them up to be.

   Part of having a favorite TV show is the parasocial interaction that you get with the characters you come to know.

   Fans naturally project their values into parasocial relationships, but they are bound to be disappointed one day when their idols aren't who they’ve built them up to be.

Word History and Origins

Origin of parasocial¹

First recorded in 1960–65; para- ¹ ( def. ) + social ( def. )

Example Sentences

Fans can also develop parasocial relationships with content creators but don’t often seek those connections with Uber drivers, he said.

From Slate

Someone with a parasocial attachment to the pair would have a field day trying to decipher which of the album’s eight tracks are about the other.

From Los Angeles Times

Our parasocial investment in stars is worlds more fervid, but now that women are also superstars, those old ways are mostly dead as long as you hold sufficient capital.

From Salon

RedZone is high-quality entertainment, and Hanson is one of the few irreplaceable people in sports media, a legit star who has a parasocial relationship with millions of football fans.

From Slate

It’s easy to be cynical about hard-core fandom, especially the more parasocial folds.

From Salon