Gayle S. Stever – författare

This book covers key aspects of parasocial relationships (PSRs), or the relationships people have with media personalities, including fictional characters. The principal feature of a PSR is that it is not individually reciprocated although when the parasocial object is a real person, usually a celebrity, that celebrity often has a reciprocal relationship with their audience as a group.The authors begin by addressing the many instances where relationships exist in a gray area that is neither fully social and reciprocated nor parasocial and non-reciprocated. In describing parasocial experience, the authors address social relationships vs. parasocial relationships as a continuum rather than a dichotomy. They also discuss prominent theories in psychology and how they should be applied to parasocial theory, as well as psychoanalytic theory and the role of the unconscious in parasocial relationships. This is followed by chapters on applications of evolutionary psychology, attachment theory, and the effects of social media on PSRs, particularly a very new social media service, Cameo.Through a meaningful exploration of social theories as they influence parasocial experiences, this book unveils areas for future study and opens up pathways for new, more sophisticated research.

Understanding Media Psychology is an authoritative introductory textbook on the growing field of media psychology. Providing an overview of topics in the field, it summarizes key concepts and theories and considers the importance of media psychology in today’s society.The second edition of this bestselling textbook has been fully updated to reflect the changing landscape of media psychology. The new edition features a brand-new chapter on news and political media, as well as increased focus on AI and new forms of social media. It covers core areas such as positive media psychology, audience research, and the effect of gaming, violence, advertising and pornography, critically engaging with contemporary discussions around propaganda, fake news, deepfakes, and how media and health psychology interacted during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Written by a team of expert authors, this book will help readers understand the structures, influences, and theories around media psychology. Particular care is also given to addressing the interaction between issues of social justice and the media, as well as the effects media has on both the members of marginalized groups and how those groups are perceived. A student website and instructor resources provide further ways to engage with the content and support teaching and learning.Containing a range of pedagogical features throughout to aid teaching and student learning, including vocabulary and key terms, discussion questions, and boxed examples, this is an essential resource for media psychology courses at the undergraduate and introductory master’s levels globally.

Understanding Media Psychology is an authoritative introductory textbook on the growing field of media psychology. Providing an overview of topics in the field, it summarizes key concepts and theories and considers the importance of media psychology in today’s society.The second edition of this bestselling textbook has been fully updated to reflect the changing landscape of media psychology. The new edition features a brand-new chapter on news and political media, as well as increased focus on AI and new forms of social media. It covers core areas such as positive media psychology, audience research, and the effect of gaming, violence, advertising and pornography, critically engaging with contemporary discussions around propaganda, fake news, deepfakes, and how media and health psychology interacted during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Written by a team of expert authors, this book will help readers understand the structures, influences, and theories around media psychology. Particular care is also given to addressing the interaction between issues of social justice and the media, as well as the effects media has on both the members of marginalized groups and how those groups are perceived. A student website and instructor resources provide further ways to engage with the content and support teaching and learning.Containing a range of pedagogical features throughout to aid teaching and student learning, including vocabulary and key terms, discussion questions, and boxed examples, this is an essential resource for media psychology courses at the undergraduate and introductory master’s levels globally.

This insightful book provides a detailed explanation of the definitions, applications and relevance of parasocial relationships in contemporary society. Gayle Stever outlines the extensive history of parasocial studies and analyses core psychological principles surrounding the subject, including psychological, developmental and attachment theories. Informed by Horton and Wohl’s seminal article in 1956 and the research of Jung, Allport, Erikson and Tajfel, chapters explore parasocial theory in social media, fandoms, diverse populations and various media formats. Stever focuses in particular on the role of the celebrity in parasocial communication and how parasocial theory relates to social media influencers. The book investigates the potential negative sides of parasocial relationships, including anti-fandom, while also assessing the positive and personal applications of parasocial theory to people’s daily lives. Understanding Parasocial Relationships is a valuable resource for students and scholars of media, psychology, communication, sociology, anthropology, cultural studies and business. Its evaluation of the psychology of audience reactions will also benefit journalists and researchers interested in media, celebrity and fandom.