Why Do We Feel So Connected to Some of Our Favorite Celebrities?

No, you’re not imagining it; you really did feel your heart break when you found out that your favorite celebrity is getting married.

As your heart grieves and your mind subconsciously seeks another who is worthy of your love and attention, you ponder on one particular thought, why was I so attached to them? It’s not like they know I exist!

Don’t worry though, because psychologists have a term for that.

Parasocial Interaction…

Parasocial interaction, as hypothesized in 1956, describes the connection of the audience with a media person. As a one-sided relationship, we tend to romanticize and idealize those we see through the media. By catching the small glimpses of their personality, we try to find connections that would bring us closer to them, such as similar personality traits.

This relationship is cultivated by the media so that we develop a sense of friendship and intimacy with them. And as we grow with them, we start to feel the same sort of connection we may have with a pen pal of sorts - someone who wasn’t present but was still there at a distance.

And since the internet allows us full access to these celebrities, we get to increase the strength of our intimacy with them by communicating through various social platforms.

 … Vs. Subconscious Controlled Attachment

This phenomenon has existed throughout history and has only increased with the advent of the internet.

However, there is another reason why we become so close to these famous people. In many instances, this is because we feel like they are speaking with us. For example, if we watch a talk show host or a YouTube star; the way they speak to the camera will make us feel like they are communicating with us directly.

But we must understand that this type of relationship is one controlled by us. These actors and characters invest no time, energy or thought in our favor. But since we control the idealized version of this person, we are able to fantasize about them without any worry of reciprocated feelings.

Emotional Connection

The reason why so many YouTube stars have suddenly gained so much notoriety is because of their one-on-one connection with their viewers.

They forge intense emotional relationships with their viewers simply by being themselves and telling them about their lives, and asking for advice and comments in return. This may be because these individuals themselves want to connect to the people around them.

According to the leading website for all things related to celebrities and their spiritual wellbeing, Celebrities Galore states in their personality profiles that many celebrities love knowing that their fans appreciate them. They want to feel that connection in a more realistic way, and for that, they try to reciprocate and respect their fan’s wishes.

According to Daniel Radcliffe’s profile, his skills at being a social butterfly automatically pushes him to feel more connected to his fans. In fact, in many of his interviews, he has spoken about his fans with such confidence that people have hailed him for his affection for those who love him in return.

So don’t worry if you’re obsessed with a celebrity, your communal connection to them is probably something that they cherish above all else.