DOCSLIB.ORG

Parasocial Interaction with an Avatar in Second Life

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Parasocial Interaction with an Avatar in Second Life Seung-A Annie Jin Parasocial Interaction with an Department of Communication Boston College Avatar in Second Life: A Typology Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467 of the Self and an Empirical Test of the Mediating Role of Social Presence Abstract 3D virtual environments (VEs) can induce parasocial interaction (PSI) and strong feel- ings of social presence through interactive communication among avatars. Throughout this research, PSI was operationally defined as the extent of VE users’ interpersonal involvement with other avatars and perception of themselves as interacting with the other virtual actors in the environment. Self-construal refers to an individual’s view of self. Self-construals play an important role in shaping PSI in interactive media environ- ments. After proposing a typology of the self, the experiment in this study empirically examined the influence of users’ interdependent self-construals on their feelings of social presence and PSI with a recommendation avatar in avatar-based communication within the 3D VE of Second Life (SL). The results revealed that people with high inter- dependent self-construals experience closer PSI with a recommendation avatar and feel stronger social presence in SL than people with low interdependent self-con- struals. A path analysis also demonstrated that social presence mediates the effects of users’ self-construals on their PSI with a recommendation avatar in VEs. 1 Introduction One noteworthy current Internet trend is the emergence and exponential growth of 3D virtual worlds such as Second Life, Active Worlds, Habbo Hotel, Gaia Online, VSide, There, and so on. Users of these 3D virtual environments (VEs) can navigate and view settings filled with a wide variety of virtual objects and interact with virtual characters using their personalized avatars. These multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs) involve more than one user because the avatars interact with one another. Thus, 3D virtual worlds can convey strong feelings of social presence through avatar interaction, enhancing the sense of togetherness for remote users who are connected through some kind of telecommunication medium (Gorini, Gaggioli, Vigna, & Riva, 2008). This study investigated users’ interaction and relationship with a recommendation avatar (‘‘artificial, computer-animated representations of human interlocutors,’’ Bente, Ru¨ggenberg, Kra¨mer, & Eschenburg, 2008, p. 288, employed to pro- vide information in real time, Jin, 2009a) within the 3D virtual world of Second Presence, Vol. 19, No. 4, August 2010, 331–340 ª 2010 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology *Correspondence to [email protected]. Jin 331 Downloaded from http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/PRES_a_00001 by guest on 02 October 2021 332 PRESENCE: VOLUME 19, NUMBER 4 Life (SL). More specifically, this study examined the phe- 2009a), video games (Jin, 2009b; Jin & Park, 2009), nomenon of parasocial interaction (PSI) between avatars and MMORPGs. The key difference between the and how feelings of social presence mediate the effects of disembodied self and the embodied self is that the users’ interdependent self-construal on their PSI with a former is a psychologically imagined or mentally proc- recommendation avatar in 3D VEs. essed self, whereas the latter is a physically manifested or visually represented one. The current study employed avatars as an embodied 1.1 Parasocial Interaction (PSI) form of the self. In VEs, embodiment becomes possible Horton and Wohl (1956) first coined and intro- through either of the following routes: (1) direct visual- duced the term parasocial interaction (PSI) to refer to ization of one’s own image (exact replica of the actual the relationship between media viewers and media char- self), or (2) indirect creation of a virtual avatar. In the acters. PSI, a ‘‘seeming face-to-face relationship between case of direct visualization of one’s real image, one spectator and performer’’ (Horton & Wohl, p. 215), experiences the authentic representation of his or her reflects mediated interaction. What differentiates interac- actual image. This embodiment assumes the form of tive 3D VEs from traditional media is their utilization of direct reflection and is realized through visualization avatars and the interactions among them. In contrast to technologies. Through advances in motion tracking traditional media such as television and movies, VE users and visualization technologies, direct visualization has can actively participate in their environment by interact- become very similar to looking into a mirror. In the ing with other users or virtual performers in the form of case of a virtual avatar, one experiences the para- personalized characters (i.e., avatars). In SL, for example, authentic (which refers to ‘‘closely resembling authentic users may experience and develop PSI with other avatars entities’’) self (see Lee, 2004, for an extensive review (Jin, 2010a). For this study, PSI was operationally and detailed explanation of ‘‘virtual’’; see Jin, 2009b, defined as the extent of users’ interpersonal involvement 2010b, for a discussion about the actual self versus the with other avatars and perception of themselves as inter- ideal self). The para-authentic self in the form of a vir- acting with the other virtual actors in the environment. tual avatar does not share any innate traits with the authentic self, as the virtual avatar is an arbitrarily cre- ated self (Fox, Bailenson, & Binney, 2009). The ability 1.2 A Typology of the Self: The Self- to customize one’s avatar in VEs like SL, however, has Concept in Avatar-Based Interactive blurred the clear dividing line between the authentic Media Environments (real) self and the para-authentic (virtual) self. In addi- Self-concept has become increasingly important in tion to making a selection from a list of given characters interactive media environments (Jin, 2010b). This sec- (thus representing the virtual or para-authentic self), tion provides a typology of the self in new media envi- VE users, leveraging the avatar-customizing function, ronments and its relevance to self-related processes in can represent themselves via a personalized avatar avatar-based communication. reflecting their actual self (thus sharing some innate The first aspect of taxonomy of the self is the embod- traits with the authentic self). ied versus disembodied self. In avatar-based media envi- The second aspect of taxonomy of the self is self as a ronments in which users perceive their avatars from doer versus self as an object of one’s own attention. Psy- first-person or third-person points of view, users experi- chologists have long recognized this duality of the self. ence an embodied self through visual observation. Ava- People can act as a doer of an action, or, conversely, they tar is one form of user embodiment in VEs (Gerhard, can view themselves as an object of their own attention Moore, & Hobbs, 2003). Avatars have become (Brown, 1998). When people engage in interactive 3D increasingly incorporated into a wide range of interac- VEs, they actively participate as a doer (subject) and thus tive media environments including e-commerce (Jin, maintain a high level of control over their actions. At the Downloaded from http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/PRES_a_00001 by guest on 02 October 2021 Jin 333 same time, they become the very object of their own provides practical implications for designing more attention, as the media environment enables the users immersive, engaging, and greater presence experiences. to observe an instant and visual manifestation of their The research question at hand is, What are the roles of physical activity via avatars (Fox et al., 2009). This self-construals in avatar-based VEs? taxonomy resonates with the duality of the self in VEs like SL where participants actively control their 1.3 Human Factors: Interdependent avatars (self as a doer) and observe a visual representation Self-Construals of their own avatars (self as an object) simultaneously. The third aspect of taxonomy of the self is individual Self-construal is an individual’s view of self. There self (private self) versus relational self (collective self). are individual differences in chronic self-construals. Peo- These private and collective selves can be (1) tempo- ple view themselves either as an individual entity or in rarily primed as a situational variable (i.e., temporarily relation to others (Verplanken et al., 2009). Differences accessible due to situational cues); or (2) measured as in self-construals significantly influence how people individual difference or chronic personality factors think, feel, and behave (Markus & Kitayama, 1991; (i.e., chronically accessible and stable; Aaker, 1999; Lewis, Goto, & Kong, 2008). A number of studies Markus & Kunda, 1986). In avatar-based interactive across a wide variety of domains demonstrate that differ- media, the private self dimension or independent ent self-construals are associated with a broad range self-construal versus the collective self dimension or of cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses (Ver- interdependent self-construal can be experimentally planken et al., 2009). For example, with respect to the manipulated or activated (e.g., the primed self as a sit- influence of self-construals on the cognitive or judgmen- uational factor; Jin, 2010c), thus becoming temporarily tal dimension, Gardner, Gabriel, and Lee (1999) found salient (Sinclair & Fehr, 2005). For example, inde- that people with a dominant independent self-construal
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 'Friends' with a Vlogger?
    1 Can You Become ‘Friends’ With a Vlogger? How Multiple Exposures, Addressing Style and Individual Belongingness Needs Affect the Parasocial Relationship Darcy I. Oerlemans SNR 2044244 Master’s Thesis Communication and Information Sciences Specialization Communication and Cognition School of Humanities and Digital Sciences Tilburg University, Tilburg Supervisor: Charlotte Out (MSc) Second Reader: dr. Martijn Goudbeek January 2021 2 Abstract A parasocial relationship is a long-term and one-sided relationship that a viewer can develop towards a media character, such as a vlogger. Although the concept has found favor with researchers, not many studies have yet focused on parasocial relationships with unknown vloggers. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the role of two key aspects in parasocial relationship strength: repeated exposures to the vlogger and the extent to which the vlogger bodily addresses the viewer, conceptualized as both seeing and hearing the vlogger speak. Moreover, individuals with a high need to belong were expected to develop stronger parasocial relationships. In a 2 (exposure to the vlogger: after first vlog and after second vlog) x 2 (bodily address: yes or no) experiment, participants (N = 122) watched two vlogs with one week in between. A mixed ANOVA indicated no effects of bodily address on parasocial relationship strength. However, regardless of addressing style, the parasocial relationship weakened after two exposures to the vlogger, indicating that parasocial relationships are not limited to positive experiences. Lastly, a MEMORE moderation analysis indicated no moderating role of the need to belong on the development of the parasocial relationship. This study is the first to combine the parasocial relationship with belongingness needs in a vlog context and used a successful manipulation of bodily address in an experiment with two exposures.
    [Show full text]
  • Twitch.TV and Parasocial Interaction: Understanding Twitch’S Social Features Within a Parasocial Framework
    Twitch.TV and Parasocial Interaction: Understanding Twitch’s Social Features Within a Parasocial Framework Maren Zeinstra June 26th, 2017 Supervisor: Dhr. Dr. Markus Stauff Second reader: Dhr. Dr. Toni Pape Television and Cross-Media Culture University of Amsterdam Table of contents Chapter 1. Introduction page 3 Chapter 2. Commentators page 10 Chapter 3. Streamers page 20 Chapter 4. Viewers page 30 Chapter 5. Conclusions page 39 Bibliography page 41 2 1. Introduction 1.1 Introduction Twitchis an online platform founded in 2011 (https://twitch.tv) where users live-stream themselves while playing a video game, displaying gameplay andincluding webcam and microphoneto communicate with their viewers (image 1.1). According to Twitch, the community consists of more than 2 million live-streamers and close to 10 million visitors per day (About Twitch).Besides individual users, organizations broadcast their eSports tournaments where gamers and teams compete for prizes (Edge 34-5). Twitch additionally offers features for social contact between users by following, subscribing, adding friends and sending personal messages. Additionally, all channelshave a chat room right next to the live-stream where userscan communicate in real time (image 1.1). Twitch users can select streams from the list of channels they “follow” at the left side of the screen, or they can browse through all live channels, of both individual streamers and organized tournaments, filtered per game, community or popularity (image 1.2). Besides the heterogeneous gaming content, Twitch introduced a “Creative” section in October 2015, where users stream themselves while cooking, painting, designing, making music, et cetera. (Moorier)(image 1.2).
    [Show full text]
  • Parasocial Interaction
    Endorsement Effectiveness in YouTube Vlogs ANZMAC, 03/12/2018 Hanna Reinikainen*, Juha Munnukka*, Devdeep Maity** & Vilma Luoma-aho* *University of Jyvaskyl̈ ä, **Delaware State University University of Jyväskylä JYU. Since 1863. 15.1.2019 1 Agenda • Vlogs and vloggers • Theoretical approach • Conceptual model • Hypothesis • Study • Results • Implications University of Jyväskylä JYU. Since 1863. 15.1.2019 2 Vlogs • Videos based on vloggers’ own lives, filmed using simple, camera gear (Stefanone and Lackaff, 2009). • Format adds realism to the content, thereby generating massive interest and drawing very large audiences (Lee and Watkins, 2016). • Have become an important focal channel of brand-related information and an integral part of consumers’ decision- making process (Chu & Kamal, 2008; Ho et al., 2015). University of Jyväskylä JYU. Since 1863. 15.1.2019 3 Vloggers = Influencers 81% of US consumers trust information and advice from blogs 61% of US consumers have made a purchase based on recommendation from a blog (Barker et al. 2017). 18–34 year-olds watch more YouTube than cable networks in the US. (YouTube) University of Jyväskylä JYU. Since 1863. 15.1.2019 4 What makes their endorsements so effective? University of Jyväskylä JYU. Since 1863. 15.1.2019 5 Parasocial interaction • Illusionary feeling of reciprocal interaction with a media persona (Horton & Wohl 1956). • Unique and one-sided involvement may range from feelings of friendship to a sense of attraction (Perse & Rubin 1989). • Can draw the audience members back to the content, increase time spent with the content (Quintero Johnson & Patnoe- Woodley 2016) and even translate into an emotional connection with brands the performer uses or recommends (Lueck 2015).
    [Show full text]
  • Parasocial Interaction: Celebrity Endorsements a Dissertation
    Running head: #PARASOCIAL INTERACTION: CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS #Parasocial Interaction: Celebrity Endorsements A dissertation submitted to the Kent State University College Of Communication and Information In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Kristen J. Schroath December 2016 #PARASOCIAL INTERACTION: CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS Dissertation written by Kristen J. Schroath B.A., John Carroll University, 2003 MBA, Kent State University, 2006 PhD, Kent State University, 2016 Approved by _________________________________________________ Federico Subervi, PhD., Chair, Doctoral Dissertation Committee _________________________________________________ Jeffery Fruit, MA, Doctoral Dissertation Committee __________________________________________________ David Robins, PhD., Doctoral Dissertation Committee __________________________________________________ Pamela Grimm, PhD., Doctoral Dissertation Committee Approved by _________________________________________________ Danielle Sarver Coombs, PhD., Chair, Doctoral Studies Committee _________________________________________________ Amy Reynolds, PhD., Dean of the College of Communication and Information #PARASOCIAL INTERACTION: CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS iii Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES ..........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Parasocial Relationships and Social Media Usage
    Rochester Institute of Technology RIT Scholar Works Theses 11-18-2011 Parasocial relationships and social media usage Christine Phelps Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.rit.edu/theses Recommended Citation Phelps, Christine, "Parasocial relationships and social media usage" (2011). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by RIT Scholar Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses by an authorized administrator of RIT Scholar Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Running Head: PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE 1 The Rochester Institute of Technology Department of Communication College of Liberal Arts Parasocial Relationships and Social Media Usage by Christine E. Phelps A Thesis Submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Science degree in Communication & Media Technologies Degree Awarded: November 18, 2011 PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE 2 The members of the Committee approve the thesis of Christine E. Phelps presented on November 18, 2011 ____________________________________ Jonathan Schroeder, Ph.D. William A. Kern Professor in Communications Department of Communication Thesis Advisor ____________________________________ Joseph C. Miller, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Marketing E. Philip Saunders College of Business Thesis Advisor ____________________________________ Rudy Pugliese, Ph.D. Professor of Communication Director, Communication & Media Technologies Graduate Degree
    [Show full text]
  • Finding a Role for Parasocial Interaction in Hazards Research Kathleen Sherman-Morris
    Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2006 A Place for PSI: Finding a Role for Parasocial Interaction in Hazards Research Kathleen Sherman-Morris Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES A PLACE FOR PSI: FINDING A ROLE FOR PARASOCIAL INTERACTION IN HAZARDS RESEARCH By KATHLEEN SHERMAN-MORRIS A dissertation submitted to the Department of Geography in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2006 The members of the Committee approve the dissertation of Kathleen Sherman-Morris defended on February, 24 2006. ________________________________ Jay Baker Professor Directing Dissertation ________________________________ Art Raney Outside Committee Member ________________________________ Jonathan Leib Committee Member ________________________________ Jim Elsner Committee Member Approved: ______________________________________ Barney Warf, Chair, Department of Geography The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my major professor, Dr. Jay Baker, as well as the members of my committee, Dr. Jim Elsner, Dr. Jonathan Leib, and Dr. Art Raney for their assistance with this dissertation, and their patience with the amount of time it took me to complete it. I also wish to thank the Department of Geography at Florida State for their support throughout my time there, and the Department of Geosciences at Mississippi State for my employment while I finished writing. I must also thank John Morris for not only his continued support and encouragement, but also for his technical expertise, and willingness to drive back and forth to both Tallahassee and Northwest Mississippi while I did my research.
    [Show full text]
  • The Effects of Perceived Relationships with Youtube Microcelebrities on Compliance
    Real, Close Friends: The Effects of Perceived Relationships with YouTube Microcelebrities on Compliance ALLISON M. SALYER AND JULIA K. WEISS Popular culture — a factor contributing to the evolution of contemporary societies — is a subset of culture where people use performances, expressions, and other ventures to create community and spread cultural information (Danesi 2). This definition of popular culture also posits that “expressive structures” serve to “enhance solidarity, understanding, and transmission of knowledge” (Danesi 3). The website YouTube, the focus of this study, serves as a popular culture hub and within it exist various types of communities that share information with each other through individualistic expression. YouTube is one of the largest online platforms available today created for video uploading. Since its inception in 2005, YouTube has risen to be incredibly popular; as of 2018, the site hosts 1.8 billion users per day, making it the most popular platform that Google has to offer (Gilbert). YouTube has spawned not only copious numbers of avid viewers but also “microcelebrities” or “YouTube stars,” who entertain these viewers by posting original content to their channels. Popular YouTube stars who have arrived at almost-celebrity status have managed to build connections with their viewers; some of the most successful creators have millions of subscribers. For individuals who are not considered to be mainstream celebrities, their ability to affect such large numbers of people is impressive. ALLISON M. SALYER is a recent graduate of The University of Virginia's College at Wise where she earned her B.A in Communication Studies. Allison's academic interests include social media studies and popular culture studies.
    [Show full text]
  • Parasocial Interaction on Social Media: How Source Identification
    PARASOCIAL INTERACTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA: HOW SOURCE IDENTIFICATION AFFECTS BRAND TRUST _______________________________________ A Thesis presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri-Columbia _______________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts _____________________________________________________ by CAROLINE MURRAY Dr. Shelly Rodgers, Thesis Supervisor MAY 2015 The undersigned, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, have examined the thesis entitled PARASOCIAL INTERACTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA: HOW SOURCE IDENTIFICATION AFFECTS BRAND TRUST presented by Caroline Murray, a candidate for the degree of master of the arts, and hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. Professor Shelly Rodgers Professor Glen Cameron Professor Sungkyoung Lee Professor Joel Poor ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many thanks in order for the completion of this thesis and of my master’s degree. As the adage goes, it takes a village, and that certainly rang true over this past semester of thesis work and the past two years of my journey at the Missouri School of Journalism. I would like to Dr. Shelly Rodgers for serving as an outstanding chair of my committee and for providing invaluable advice and insight. Without her guidance and expertise, I would have been completely lost. I would next like to thank Dr. Glen Cameron for serving as the methodologist of my committee, as well as for being an outstanding teacher. In his strategic conflict management course, he taught to me to question the way I see the world of communications and to never be afraid of answering a question with, “It depends.” I would also like to thank Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Relationships to Video Game Streamers: Examining Gratifications, Parasocial Relationships, Fandom, and Community Affiliation Online Michael G
    University of Wisconsin Milwaukee UWM Digital Commons Theses and Dissertations August 2016 Relationships to Video Game Streamers: Examining Gratifications, Parasocial Relationships, Fandom, and Community Affiliation Online Michael G. Blight University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.uwm.edu/etd Part of the Communication Technology and New Media Commons Recommended Citation Blight, Michael G., "Relationships to Video Game Streamers: Examining Gratifications, Parasocial Relationships, Fandom, and Community Affiliation Online" (2016). Theses and Dissertations. 1255. https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/1255 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by UWM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UWM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RELATIONSHIPS TO VIDEO GAME STREAMERS: EXAMINING GRATIFICATIONS, PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, FANDOM, AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATION ONLINE by Michael George Blight A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Communication at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee August 2016 ABSTRACT RELATIONSHIPS TO VIDEO GAME STREAMERS: EXAMINING GRATIFICATIONS, PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, FANDOM, AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATION ONLINE by Michael George Blight The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2016 Under the Supervision of Professor Erin Ruppel Advances in media consumption and viewership have expanded the use of virtual communities such as streaming platforms (e.g., Twitch,tv, Azubu.tv, YouTube Gaming, AfreecaTV) and the ways individuals satisfy individual and social gratifications within these communities. Further, the connection viewers make with streamers as both fans and parasocially (i.e., a perceived friendship with media figure) has a number of implications for the communities that support them.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Potential for Interaction in Parasocial Relationships
    The University of Southern Mississippi The Aquila Digital Community Master's Theses Summer 2020 The Role of Potential for Interaction in Parasocial Relationships Aaron Bermond Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses Part of the Social Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Bermond, Aaron, "The Role of Potential for Interaction in Parasocial Relationships" (2020). Master's Theses. 763. https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/763 This Masters Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE ROLE OF POTENTIAL FOR INTERACTION IN PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS by Aaron Bermond A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate School, the College of Education and Human Sciences and the School of Psychology at The University of Southern Mississippi in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Approved by: Dr. Lucas Keefer, Committee Chair Dr. Donald Sacco Dr. Elena Stepanova August 2020 COPYRIGHT BY Aaron Bermond 2020 Published by the Graduate School ABSTRACT Previous research suggests that individuals can develop parasocial relationships, or strong emotional attachments to figures in the media. While these relationships typically only involve a one-way exchange of information (target to viewer), viewers still receive many positive benefits that are typical of friendships and other interpersonal bonds. The current literature on parasocial relationships provides detailed information on why they are formed, who forms them, and why they are useful, yet no research has investigated whether the potential for interaction between a media figure and a viewer moderates their psychological effects.
    [Show full text]
  • The Development of Parasocial Relationships on Youtube
    The Journal of Social Media in Society Spring 2018, Vol. 7, No. 1, Pages 233-252 thejsms.org The Development of Parasocial Relationships on YouTube Kate Szer Kurtin1, Nina O’Brien1, Deya Roy2, and Linda Dam3 1Department of Communication Studies, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90032 2Communication Studies Department, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 3Communications Department, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA 90747 Continuing research on the development of predicted both social and physical attraction. This parasocial relationships, the present study attraction was related to parasocial relationship modernized a seminal study conducted by Rubin and formation, which then positively increased the McHugh (1987) investigating the relationship relational importance. Overall, the results provide among communication, liking, and intimacy in justification for extending the theoretical forming a relationship with a television character. expectations of parasocial interaction to the This study applied this research to the YouTube YouTube context. video sharing platform to see if such a relationship was evident on social media. Results of a structural Keywords: parasocial relationships, new media, equation model closely replicate the original YouTube, attraction findings, and confirmed that exposure to YouTube n 1987, Rubin and McHugh sought to predict the antecedents and consequences of what Horton and Wohl (1956) termed parasocial interaction, “a one-sided interpersonal relationship
    [Show full text]
  • Pewdiepie, Popularity, and Profitability
    CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Pepperdine Digital Commons Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research Volume 8 Article 4 The 3 P's: Pewdiepie, Popularity, and Profitability Lea Medina Pepperdine University, [email protected] Eric Reed Pepperdine University, [email protected] Cameron Davis Pepperdine University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/pjcr Part of the Communication Commons Recommended Citation Medina, Lea; Reed, Eric; and Davis, Cameron () "The 3 P's: Pewdiepie, Popularity, and Profitability," Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research: Vol. 8 , Article 4. Available at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/pjcr/vol8/iss1/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Communication at Pepperdine Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research by an authorized editor of Pepperdine Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected] , [email protected]. 21 The 3 P’s: Pewdiepie, Popularity, & Popularity Lea Medina Written for COM 300: Media Research (Dr. Klive Oh) Introduction Channel is an online prole created on the Felix Arvid Ul Kjellberg—more website YouTube where users can upload their aectionately referred to as Pewdiepie—is original video content to the site. e factors statistically the most successful YouTuber, o his channel that will be explored are his with a net worth o over $15 million and over relationships with the viewers, his personality, 100 million subscribers. With a channel that relationship with his wife, and behavioral has uploaded over 4,000 videos, it becomes patterns.
    [Show full text]