I am a couple doctor and here is the relationship in which more and more people take shelter

In the context of social relations crisis and the rise of social media, offering several possibilities of virtual interactions, a special type of relationship has increased, which reveals the porcity between reality and imaginary: Parasocial relationship. – The investment that can be massive for this type of relationship. Connected, but is marked by contrasting isolation.

Therefore, it is useful to question the reasons that push us to develop these emotional relationships with people that we will probably never find and are interested in the underlying mobility and psychological effects of these relationships.

Separate the motional interaction from the motional relationship

The concept of passive relationship was introduced in 1956 by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Vohl[1]To describe the impression of developing a direct, opposite meeting, with a media personality through a large scale media that were radio, television and cinema. This incident was present long before it was nominated. Palmachal interaction of motional relations should be distinguished.

A Parasmic Internation There is an immediate moment when a person feels direct and personal relationship with a promoted person during the exhibition.

A parasitic relationship There is a long -term and durable fictional link that develops from perceptible interaction and continues beyond temporary risk for a propagated figure. It is a type of current relationship that everyone can develop with variable intensity and which is not a path related to itself. Not confused with Irotomania.

Loneliness: An explanation for parasital relationships?

To date, there are no clear reasons that will explain why we are developing a passive relationship. An advanced hypothesis requires solitude and mutual relationships. According to a 2023 study[2]More than one of the ten French people feel isolated and one in five feels regularly alone. However, although social media is often considered as a blank space, which is favorable for sociality, they do not always promote important encounters. Thus, our excessive communication society creates a contradiction: despite the development of means of communication, “without border” and the multiplication of connection, loneliness persists and grows. In this context, the absence of significant social relations or the difficulty of creating a link in real life may lead to health compensation[3]Although odd, parasical relationship can therefore fulfill the deep requirement of connections and related.

In addition, attachment style, especially concerned and avoiding, can explain why some individuals develop more parasitic relations. They have psychological and emotional effects similar to real mutual relations and have similar attachment mechanisms.

Inexplication of intimacy

Social networks blur the boundaries between are real and imaginary. They provide the presence of an authenticity that feeds the impression of maintaining a personal relationship with the figures displayed there. By sharing their personal feelings and experiences, these personality creates an illusion of intimacy, which strengthens a sense of closeness to their audience. This extreme trend[4]In public space it enhances the confusion of self -vin, an individual relationship: one has the impression to know the media person.

In addition, many features given by platforms encourage users to get active in the relationship. Thus, many potentially parasical interactions such as the session “Ask me your questions”, DM (Direct messages), choice, questionnaire, among others, reinforce the impression of joining a real relationship, to have a real instantaneous and personal relationship… and the motional relationship is enmity.

Mental health results

These relationships can offer a twist or migration from daily life, which provide a sense of belonging, support, comfort and understanding. In addition, they may look more confident and stable, as they do not give fear of rejection, abandonment or despair, and the person does not require the same level of maintenance as the relationship (((in real life,, However, these relationships remain superficial, lack of depth, authenticity… and mutuality.

These one -desert relationship can also affect mental health. The superficial nature, biased and published conversation on the social network can increase isolation, loneliness and insecurity in the person who has invested this relationship. They can also push people to compare themselves to unattainable standards, leading to a decline in self -existing and anxiety. Some of my patients spent several hours on social networks, talking about some of these affected as they were members of their close entry. Because they see their faces and listen to their voice every day, these media figures are an integral part of their life. But the attention paid to them is often done to obstruct the obstruction of their loved ones in real life, which can lead to conflict and friendly breakdown.

Parasural relationships become problematic when they change real relationshipsThat emotional attachment becomes very intense, that one dependence becomes systematic[5]Insulating a person and harassing your daily life. Excessive investment of parasomel relationship (and therefore of a person with mediated) can lead to jealousy, frustration, anger and extreme cases, passion, oppression, even irotomymania.

Antisocial mourning and rupture

The end of a series, the disappearance of a public character (real or imaginary), the return of a social network from an impressive, or a personality involvement in a scam is all reasons that can eliminate a masters -in -motional relationship. Parasocyte breaks and condoles The emotions are similar to those experienced in real life in followers[6] : Sadness, anger, betrayal, outrage that can cause depression. To reduce the effects of a possible despair and to avoid losing this misleading but important friendship, some people will go against their own values ​​and beliefs to preserve this link – this incompatible is the expression of cognitive.

Thus, parasitic relations affect behavior, shape social norms, make it possible to promote some reasons and direct consumption options, which can encroach for the best and worse on the independent desire of each. . The deep impact of these unilateral emotional connections is not negligible.

Although parasitness is not a new event and is not exclusive to social media, they intensify its expressions. Cognitive, emotional and practical processes that reduce them are special attention. However, scientific literature has not yet detected this complex incident. This purpose is not a stigma, but to understand the potential, positive and negative, dynamics and results on the consumers of media content and creators, especially in terms of mental health. In short, if social media can create a positive and inspirational link through parallel relations, then the boundaries between real and imaginary to avoid potential drifts become unclear, it is important to be cautious. Therefore, the existence of these relationships for individuals, their deep effects and mental health is important to consult a professional if necessary.

Reference

[1] Horton, D., and Richard Vohl, R. (1956). Mass communication and para-social interaction: Overview on intimacy at some distance. Psychiatry, 19 (3), 215–229.

[2] Foundation of France, https://www.fondationdefrance.org/images/pdf/2024/etudes-solitudes-2024.pdf “by the foundation of” (re-) “study solitids,” (AE) attached to the campus “(again).

[3] The relationship described as a “confusion” can be considered a form of motional relationship. This is a fictional romantic relationship with a person with whom we had very little or no real conversation. In other words: “We make movies”. The imagination goes away and the risk is to do too much project and fall into excessive objects, which can cause mental anguish, especially in a state of disillusionment.

[4] After Jacques Lacon, Serge Tissron handled the concept of exitness – “intimate externality” – to highlight the desire to reveal your mental life as a physical life, to highlight the desire to highlight his mental life, which Hithrto ‘defendant’ Picked up This is not an exhibitionism. Social media replacing the traditional boundaries between private and public sector, is intimate and shown to show the difference between what is shown, self -growing, convenient, and values ​​encourage extremes.

[5] On this subject, consult a very informative thesis of Pierre de Berell: study of habitual relations between audience and youtubers. Psychology. Paris Sit University, 2022. French.

[6] Eyal, K., & Cohen, J. (2006). When good friends say goodbye: a mosical breakup study. Journal of broadcasting and electronic media, 50 (3), 502-523.