Fantastic relationships and where to find them: Fantasy and its impact on romantic parasocial phenomena with media characters

Abstract

Although romantic parasocial phenomena with media characters can have a significant impact on individuals’ lives, little is known about the personal predictors that facilitate their development. One of these predictors is an individual's level of fantasy. To investigate the role of fantasy in the development of romantic parasocial phenomena, we conducted two studies: a survey (Study I, N = 80) and a laboratory experiment with a 1 × 2 between-subjects design combined with a follow-up survey (Study II, N = 66). Both studies provide evidence that fantasy enhances the intensity of romantic parasocial relationships. Moreover, Study I suggests that this relationship is mediated by more intense retrospective imaginative involvement. Study II extends this finding by providing evidence that fantasy is also linked to more involvement during the reception in the form of romantic parasocial interactions. In turn, this increases the intensity of retrospective imaginative involvement and romantic parasocial relationships.