Effects of Parasocial Experiences on Intergroup Relationships

Abstract

Abstract This chapter reviews existing research on how mediated contact with media figures (e.g., celebrities, fictional characters, public figures, and others) can affect intergroup relations. The review is organized around two parasocial experiences through which mediated intergroup encounters with media figures are theorized to affect audience prejudice: parasocial contact and vicarious contact. The chapter concludes with several recommendations for advancing theory and research on media figure intergroup contact effects and understanding how intergroup media figure involvement can be most advantageous for members of marginalized social groups. Moving forward, any theorizing of media figure contact effects should be not only comprehensive enough to explain how diverse groups of people respond to different media figures, but also just enough to inform and promote social change that is beneficial to the groups that have been most victimized by the prejudices that intergroup contact theory has always sought to remedy.