“Leave Britney alone!”: parasocial relationships and empathy

The present study examined the relationship between parasocial relationships (PSRs; one-sided relationships with media figures), PSR characteristics, and empathy. We also examined whether people are biased toward those with PSRs, and whether people higher in empathy are less biased. Participants completed a survey that assessed whether they a) had a PSR, b) their satisfaction with, commitment to, and investment in the PSR, c) their degree of parasocial interaction (PSI), d) biases toward people with PSRs, and e) empathy. Results showed that empathy was positively related to self-identifying as having a PSR, commitment to and satisfaction with PSRs, and overall PSI. Results also showed that bias against individuals with PSRs exists, but that individuals higher in empathy are less biased. This research provides new insight into how empathy relates to PSRs and provides evidence of bias toward people with PSRs, as well as a potential way to reduce that bias (empathy).