1 . Do you find yourself waiting for the next MrBeast video to drop so you can see his latest challenge? Or perhaps the newest experiment from Mark Rober? Maybe you’re wild about Harry Styles or Timothee Chalamet. You follow them on social media, connect with other fans online and maybe even message them now and again. Even though these people are celebrities, you feel like you know them.
Most of us form relationships of some sort with celebrities and fictional characters. We imagine having a conversation with that person or asking for advice. Sometimes we develop a more romantic crush. Embarrassing as it may sometimes feel, this is perfectly normal. Scientists call these faux friendships “parasocial relationships”. Social relationships involve two or more people. Parasocial ones, on the other hand, are completely one-sided.
Decades ago, parasocial relationships happened between TV viewers and the people on screen. This was especially true for talk-show hosts and newscasters who spoke directly to the camera. People watching felt as though these TV personalities were talking directly to them. Over time, they felt a close connection with them. It wasn’t just people on TV. Beatles fans went wild for the band, just as Harry Styles fans do today.
More recently, parasocial relationships have shifted to other types of screens. Many people, from children to adults, have some form of screen that they use for entertainment. Even young children form parasocial relationships with on-screen personalities. Big Bird and Elmo from Sesame Street can seem like friends. So can animated characters or superheroes.
“We root for them,” says Kristin Drogos. “We want them to do well.” Drogos is a communication researcher at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It’s that positive feelings toward these on-screen personalities that cause us to form a parasocial bond with them. And that connection can be powerful.
1. What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 1?| A．To suggest several ways to kill time. |
| B．To reflect the diversity of people’s interests. |
| C．To show people’s attachment to famous people. |
| D．To confirm the benefits of watching celebrities. |
| A．Innocent. | B．Imaginary. | C．Fashionable. | D．Abnormal. |
| A．They can exist between human beings and non-humans. |
| B．People are more willing to become friends with talk-show hosts. |
| C．Superheroes are more popular among adults as on-screen friends. |
| D．Celebrities make the best of parasocial relationships to attract more fans. |
| A．How parasocial relationships benefit people. |
| B．What can influence a parasocial relationship. |
| C．How to communicate with on-screen friends. |
| D．What people share in parasocial relationships. |
