Positives in Parasocial Relationships

          As a class we have discussed the phenomenon of having para social relationships with famous figures and celebrities from our childhood. Before our discussion, I felt that this phenomenon was frowned upon by most people in society for its lack of authenticity and sort of foolish characteristics. However, learning from everyone's insight in class, I noticed no one in our class was negatively affected by these past crushes and everyone seemed to be a functioning member of society despite having this kind of relationship. It also came up in conversation that para social relationships that imagine a celebrity as a close friend instead of a love interest are more common. I would have to agree. http://bigthink.com/ideafeed/the-angelina-jolie-effect. This blog's findings serve as an example of the good a paraoscial relationship that imagines a celebrity as a close friend can bring.
          This blog explains how in 2013, Angelina Jolie decided to take a pre-emptive measure to prevent breast cancer by getting a double mastectomy. Her decision was all over the news and led to a more prominent national discussion of breast cancer and genetic testing. The blog's focus was a study done by Professor Kami Kosenko that aimed to find out whether or not Jolie's actions and its coverage influenced people to take similar actions as Jolie and why these people cared about her and her story. The study surveyed 356 people and found that 30% of the women were motivated to get tested for the same gene Jolie had been tested for. 23% said they would likely get tested and another 7% said they for sure would get tested. What is interesting about this study also is that Kosenko explained the reasons for the results by saying "Women who identified more strongly with Jolie were more likely to intend to get the genetic testing regardless of whether they had a family history of cancer than women who did have a family history of cancer, but did not identify with Jolie. The same was true of women who felt they had some sort of parasocial relationship with Jolie, meaning they viewed her as a friend. This means that Jolie's speaking out definitely had an impact."
          This study serves as support of Ward, Day, and Epstein's Uncommonly Good: Exploring How Mass Media May Be a Positive Influence on Young Women’s Sexual Health and Development because it shows the positive impact a media figure and the media coverage of her actions led to a greater awareness of breast cancer and genetic testing. Perhaps another category of media positives could be added that focuses on the good media figures can have on society. This shift in thinking might be refreshing since a lot of media focus on celebrity effects are focused on their negative impacts. This blog and the study included in it also could be an interesting extension of Karinols' Adolescent Females’ Idolization of Male Media Stars as a Transition Into Sexuality because it offers a look inside parasocial interactions as celebrity idols and the good that come from this. Even if it deals with a different age group, they have parallels in terms of the effects of celebrity idolization.

Sources 

Ward, L. M., Day, K. M., & Epstein, M. (2006). Uncommonly good: exploring how mass media may be a positive influence on young women's sexual health and development. New directions for child and adolescent development,2006(112), 57-70.

Karniol, R. (2001). Adolescent females' idolization of male media stars as a transition into sexuality. Sex Roles, 44(1-2), 61-77.

 Shoemaker, N. (2015, July 31). The Angelina Jolie Effect. Retrieved October 31, 2015, from http://bigthink.com/ideafeed/the-angelina-jolie-effect