The Cambridge Dictionary has declared “parasocial” as the Word of the Year 2025, creating a buzz around how Gen Z and the social media generation are now seeking human connections. In an era when loneliness and AI connections are on the rise, parasocial relationships are being coined as the language of fandom and imaginary bonds with celebrities and AI chatbots.
The massive following of Taylor Swift, whose fans call themselves Swifties, and the attention on Travis Kelce, along with the rise in popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) bonds, whether as a therapist, friend, personal assistant, or office buddy, are credited with making parasocial a worldwide talking point.
While the Internet has exploded with the use of this new term in everyday conversations, it has also fueled a discussion around the psychology behind parasocial relationships and whether they are healthy. Dr Divya Shree K. R., Consultant – Psychiatry, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, and Dr. Chandni Tugnait, Psychotherapist, Life Coach & Healer, Founder & Director – Gateway of Healing, explain what needs to be understood and taken care of.
What Does “Parasocial” Mean?
The Cambridge Dictionary defines the word “parasocial,” an adjective, as involving or relating to a connection that someone feels between themselves and a famous person they personally do not know, a character in a book, film, TV series, etc., or an artificial intelligence.
The term was first coined by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl in 1956 and describes the relationship viewers form with television and media personalities.
Dr Divya Shree explains a parasocial relationship as totally one-sided. “In these relationships, a person feels emotionally attached to someone who does not even know them, such as a TV celebrity, influencer, or book character, and this relationship forms through repeated watching or following their content.” She adds, “These relationships can feel comforting and give a sense of friendship or support, but they are not real social interactions.”
Swifties feeling emotionally connected to the lyrics, music, relationships, engagement, and everything about Taylor Swift’s life is the best example to understand this phenomenon.
With this, the term has shifted from academic writing to personal conversations as netizens form a steady bond with influencers, social media personalities, and even with AI tools.
Are parasocial relationships healthy?
The timing of “parasocial” being chosen as the word of the year could not be better than this era, when real human connections are lacking and loneliness has gripped the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every six people worldwide feels lonely and lacks real, trustworthy human relationships. But what do parasocial relationships mean in this situation, and are they healthy?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, parasocial relationships cannot be truly defined as healthy or unhealthy; it mostly depends on your mental health. If you are in a good emotional state, this phenomenon is fine, but during a bad phase, it can drain your emotional strength.
Dr. Shree explains, “Parasocial relationships can be healthy when they give comfort, inspiration, or positive feelings without replacing real-life connections.” She further adds, “It turns into unhealthy relationships when a person depends too much on this one-sided bond for emotional support, begins to ignore real relationships, or feels strong jealousy or sadness when the influencer does not respond.”
Dr Chandni Tugnait underlines, “Because the connection is not reciprocal, individuals may idealize the figure or depend on the imagined bond for emotional regulation. This can distort expectations in real relationships and deepen a sense of isolation.”
Dr Chandni Tugnait underlines, “Because the connection is not reciprocal, individuals may idealize the figure or depend on the imagined bond for emotional regulation. This can distort expectations in real relationships and deepen a sense of isolation.”
Psychology Behind Parasocial Relationships
“The psychology behind parasocial relationships comes from how our brains naturally form emotional bonds when we see someone repeatedly, hear their voice, and learn personal details, even if the person is on a screen and not physically present,” explains Dr Shree. “Social media increases this effect by showing daily routines, personal stories, and direct messages, which create an illusion of closeness, making the viewer feel understood even without any real interaction.” Dr. Tugnait mentions, “When someone repeatedly consumes a creator’s or celebrity’s content, the mind begins treating that presence as known, activating the same neural pathways involved in real relationships. This creates a sense of comfort and emotional closeness, even though the bond is one-sided.” “People assign ideal qualities to the public figure, turning the parasocial relationship into a reflection of their own desires. It feels safe because it demands nothing in return, yet it cannot replace the emotional nourishment of real, reciprocal relationships,” she further adds. Modern research shows that parasocial relationships are sometimes formed due to loneliness, resonance from the public figure’s life story, a lack of real-life bonds, and isolation. This creates a space where watching someone online, or reading about the personality or character, helps you feel connected. With time, it leads you to deep-diving into their personal and professional life, making you first their fan and later obsessed with their choices, work, and life.Parasocial Relationships As a Coping Mechanism
In many cases, parasocial relationships also work as a coping mechanism because they provide emotional comfort, stability, and a sense of connection during stressful or lonely times, even though the relationship is one-sided. According to Dr. Tugnait, parasocial relationships often act as a coping mechanism because they offer emotional comfort without the complexity of real-world interactions. “When someone follows a celebrity, influencer, or fictional character they admire, it can make them feel less alone and give them a safe place to escape from real-life worries,” Dr Shree states.Extremes of Parasocial Relationships
According to Dr Shree, the extremes of parasocial relationships happen when a person becomes excessively emotionally attached to a celebrity or influencer and starts believing the bond is real.
Prolonged emotional attachment can lead to a delusion that you share a real-life bond with the personality. In severe cases, the person may stalk, harass, or threaten the public figure because they feel entitled to attention or feel betrayed by something the celebrity does.
This extreme form can also harm the person’s own life, causing them to ignore friends, damage real relationships, or feel deep sadness when the public figure does not respond. In very rare cases, this obsession can lead to risky behaviour or self-harm.
FAQ
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What is a parasocial relationship?
“Parasocial relationship” refers to a bond that someone feels between themselves and a popular personality without knowing them in real life. -
Is having a crush parasocial?
Yes, having a crush on any public figure or book character is considered a case of a parasocial relationship. -
What does “parasocial” mean?
The term “parasocial” is an adjective that refers to someone feeling an imaginary bond with any public figure, TV star, or fictional character. -
Is a parasocial relationship good or bad?
Medical reports do not define parasocial relationships as good or bad. It depends on the mental condition of the person forming the emotional bond.
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