Attachment Theory

Question 1

Parasocial relationships and attachment problems.

Answer 1

Parasocial relationships can be linked to attachment problems, protest at the loss of an attachment figure is similar to the separation protest seen in infants. People with childhood attachment issues form parasocial relationships to meet their need for attachment/affection.

Question 2

Bowlby’s theories and parasocial relationships

Answer 2

Bowlby noted that a failure to form a monotropy can attachment before the critical period of 2 years of age, or developing a poor attachment can have long term impacts. They could have poor internal working models, be delinquents etc.
people who didn’t form a strong bond with their primary care proved with try to find attachment substitutes as adults, parasocial relationships allow them to do this.

Question 3

Type of attachment and parasocial relationships

Answer 3

People who form insecure resistant relationships with their primary caregiver in childhood will be more likely to form parasocial relationships as they will be scared of the criticism and rejection that comes from a normal relationship. Insecure resistant people often show clingy and jealous behaviour in adulthood which makes it hard to create lasting romantic relationships, parasocial relationships allow them to create a fantasised perfect relationship without fear of rejection.

Question 4

Strengths of attachment theory

Answer 4

• ) Cole and leets found that individuals with an insecure resistant attachment style were more likely to engage in parascoial relationships then insecure avoidant people. This guests that there is a relationship between early attachment in childhood and adult parasocial relationships.
• ) Resrearch has found that 63% of stalkers experienced loss of a primary caregiver in childhood. 50% reported childhood emotional, physical or sexual abuse from their primary caregivers. This supports the idea that disturbed attachment in childhood is related to extreme forms of parasocial relationships as an adult.
• ) A study found that adults with insecure attachment types had positive attitudes towards obsessive behaviour and stalking. Pathological attachment types tend to stalk which implies stalking is related to childhood attachment.

Question 5

Weaknesses of attachment theory

Answer 5

• ) Research studies into the link between infant attachment type and parasocial relationships rely on participants memories about their early lives in order to asses their infant attachment style. Such recollections are likely to be flawed reducing the validity of the studies.
• ) Parasocial relationship can be positive and nit just about fulfilling attachment needs, for example they allow a safe exploration of emotions.