The absorption addiction model of parasocial relationships
The absorption-addiction model explains how a fan's attachment to a celebrity can escalate through three increasingly intense levels, from casual interest all the way to obsessive, problematic behaviour.
Real World
Mark David Chapman's obsession with John Lennon progressed from enjoying his music (entertainment-social), to believing he had a personal spiritual connection with Lennon (intense-personal), to the borderline-pathological stage where he travelled to New York and fatally shot Lennon in 1980.
Exam Focus
Distinguish absorption (identity fusion) from addiction (escalating need) — examiners reward students who define both components separately.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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