1887
Volume 7, Issue 1
  • ISSN 2210-4372
  • E-ISSN: 2210-4380
USD
Buy:$35.00 + Taxes

Abstract

Abstract

Five TV actors completed the Big Five personality scale for a character they played on a popular Israeli TV comedy. Viewers of each of these series completed the same scales both for themselves and as they thought the characters would have completed them. They then completed parasocial relationship and identification scales with respect to the same character. Perceived and measured similarity scores (i.e., using the actors’ scores) were computed for each viewer-character pair. These similarity scores were then used to predict both parasocial relationship strength and the degree of identification. Results show that perceived and measured similarity are mostly unrelated and that perceived similarity, but not measured similarity, is related to parasocial relationships and identification. Implications of these results for mediated relationships theory and measurement validity are discussed.

This work is currently available as a sample.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/ssol.7.1.05coh
2017-11-23
2025-04-22
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Bandura, A.
    (2001) Social cognitive theory of mass communication. Media psychology, 3(3), 265–299. doi:  10.1207/S1532785XMEP0303_03
    https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532785XMEP0303_03 [Google Scholar]
  2. Branch, S. E. , Wilson, K. M. , & Agnew, C. R.
    (2013) Committed to Oprah, Homer, or House: Using the investment model to understand parasocial relationships. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 2(2), 96. doi:  10.1037/a0030938
    https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030938 [Google Scholar]
  3. Caprara, G. V. , Barbaranelli, C. , & Livi, S.
    (1994) Mapping personality dimensions in the Big Five model. European Review of Applied Psychology, 441, 9–15.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Cohen, E. L.
    (2010) Expectancy violations in relationships with friends and media figures. Communication Research Reports, 27(2), 97–111. doi:  10.1080/08824091003737836
    https://doi.org/10.1080/08824091003737836 [Google Scholar]
  5. Cohen, J.
    (2001) Defining identification: A theoretical look at the identification of audiences with media characters. Mass Communication & Society, 4(3), 245–264. doi:  10.1207/S15327825MCS0403_01
    https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327825MCS0403_01 [Google Scholar]
  6. (2009) Mediated Relationships and Media Effects: Parasocial Interaction and Identification. In R. Nabi & M. B. Oliver (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Media Processes and Effects (pp.223–236). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Cohen, J. , Weimann-Saks, D. & Mazor-Tregerman, M.
    (2017) Does Character Similarity Increase Identification and Persuasion?Media Psychology, 1–>23, Published online: 04 Apr 2017. doi:  10.1080/15213269.2017.1302344
    https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2017.1302344 [Google Scholar]
  8. Cole, T. , & Leets, L.
    (1999) Attachment styles and intimate television viewing: Insecurely forming relationships in a parasocial way. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 16(4), 495–511. doi:  10.1177/0265407599164005.
    https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407599164005 [Google Scholar]
  9. Costa, P. T. Jr. , & McCrae, R. R.
    (1992) Revised NEO personality inventory (NEO-PI-P) and NEO five factor inventory (NEO-FFI) professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources. doi:  10.1521/pedi.1992.6.4.343
    https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.1992.6.4.343 [Google Scholar]
  10. Costa, P. T. , McCrae, R. R. , & Dye, D. A.
    (1991) Facet scales for agreeableness and conscientiousness: a revision of the NEO personality inventory. Personality and Individual Differences, 12(9), 887–898. doi:  10.1016/0191‑8869(91)90177‑D.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(91)90177-D [Google Scholar]
  11. De Graaf, A.
    (2014) The Effectiveness of Adaptation of the Protagonist in Narrative Impact: Similarity Influences Health Beliefs through Self‐Referencing. Human Communication Research, 40(1), 73–90. doi:  10.1111/hcre.12015
    https://doi.org/10.1111/hcre.12015 [Google Scholar]
  12. Eyal, K. , & Rubin, A. M.
    (2003) Viewer aggression and homophily, identification, and parasocial relationships with television characters. Journal of Broadcasting& Electronic Media, 47(1), 77–98. doi:  10.1207/s15506878jobem4701_5.
    https://doi.org/10.1207/s15506878jobem4701_5 [Google Scholar]
  13. Etzion, D. , & Laski, S.
    (1998)  The “Big Five” Inventory – Hebrew Version by Permission. Tel Aviv University, Faculty of management, the Institute of Business Research.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Eyal, K. , & Dailey, R. M.
    (2012) Examining relational maintenance in parasocial relationships. Mass Communication and Society, 15(5), 758–781. doi:  10.1080/15205436.2011.616276
    https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2011.616276 [Google Scholar]
  15. Funder, D. C.
    (2001) Annual review of psychology. Personality, 521, 197–221. doi:  10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.197
    https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.197 [Google Scholar]
  16. Feilitzen, C. , and Linné, O.
    (1975) Identifying with television characters. Journal of Communication, 25(4), 51–55. doi:  10.1111/j.1460‑2466.1975.tb00638.x
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1975.tb00638.x [Google Scholar]
  17. Giles, D. C.
    (2002) Parasocial interaction: A review of the literature and a model for future research. Media Psychology, 4(3), 279–305. doi:  10.1207/S1532785XMEP0403_04
    https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532785XMEP0403_04 [Google Scholar]
  18. Hartmann, T. , & Goldhoorn, C.
    (2011) Horton and Wohl revisited: Exploring viewers’ experience of parasocial interaction. Journal of communication, 61(6), 1104–1121. doi:  10.1111/j.1460‑2466.2011.01595.x
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2011.01595.x [Google Scholar]
  19. Hoeken, H. , Kolthoff, M. , & Sanders, J.
    (2016) Story Perspective and Character Similarity as Drivers of Identification and Narrative Persuasion. Article first published online: 2FEB 2016, Human Communication Research. doi:  10.1111/hcre.12076
    https://doi.org/10.1111/hcre.12076 [Google Scholar]
  20. Hoffner, C.
    (1996) Children’s wishful identification and parasocial interaction with favorite television characters. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 40(3), 389–402. doi:  10.1080/08838159609364360
    https://doi.org/10.1080/08838159609364360 [Google Scholar]
  21. Hoffner, C. , & Cantor, J.
    (1991) Perceiving and responding to mass media characters. In J. Bryant and D. Zillmann (Eds.), Responding to the screen: Reception and reaction processes (pp.63–101). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Horton, D. , & Wohl, R. R.
    (1956) Mass communication and para-social interaction: Observations on intimacy at a distance. Psychiatry, 19(3), 215–229. doi:  10.1080/00332747.1956.11023049
    https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.1956.11023049 [Google Scholar]
  23. Kahneman, D.
    (2011) Thinking, Fast and Slow. London, United Kingdom: Penguin.
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Kaufman, G. F. , Libby, L. K.
    (2012) Changing beliefs and behavior through experience-taking. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 103(1), 1–19. doi:  10.1037/a0027525
    https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027525 [Google Scholar]
  25. Klimmt, C. , Hartmann, T. , & Schramm, H.
    (2006) Parasocial interactions and relationships. In J. Bryant & P. Vorderer (Eds.). Psychology of entertainment, (PP.291–313), Mawah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Konjin, E. A. , Nije Bijvank, M. , & Bushman, B. J.
    (2007) I wish I were a warrior: the role of wishful identification in the effects of violent video games on aggression in adolescent boys. Developmental Psychology, 43(4), 1038. doi:  10.1037/0012‑1649.43.4.1038
    https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.43.4.1038 [Google Scholar]
  27. Maccoby, E. E. & Wilson, W. C.
    (1957) Identification and observational learning from films. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 55(1), 76–87. doi:  10.1037/h0043015
    https://doi.org/10.1037/h0043015 [Google Scholar]
  28. McCrae, R. R. , & Costa, P. T.
    (2008) The five-factor theory of personality. In O. P. John , R. W. Robins & L. A. Pervin (eds.). Handbook of personality: Theory and research (third edition) (pp.159–181). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. McKinley, C. J.
    (2010) Examining dimensions of character involvement as contributing factors in television viewers’ binge drinking perceptions. Doctoral Dissertation, The University of Arizona. Retrieved fromarizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/194023
  30. McPherson, M. , Smith-Lovin, L. , & Cook, J. M.
    (2001) Birds of a feather: Homophily in social networks. Annual review of sociology, 271, 415–444. doi:  10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.415
    https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.415 [Google Scholar]
  31. Mount, M. K. , & Barrick, M. R.
    (1995) The Big Five Personality dimensions: Implications for research and practice in human resources management. Research in Personality and Human Resource Management, 131, 153–200.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. John, O. P. , & Srivastava, S.
    (1999) The Big Five trait taxonomy: History, measurement, and theoretical perspectives. Handbook of personality: Theory and research, 2(1999), 102–138.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Perse, E. M. , & Rubin, R. B.
    (1989) Attribution in social and parasocial relationships. Communication Research, 16(1), 59–77. doi:  10.1177/009365089016001003.
    https://doi.org/10.1177/009365089016001003 [Google Scholar]
  34. Pervin, L. A.
    (1989) Personality: Theory and research. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Rubin, R. B. , & McHugh, M. P.
    (1987) Development of parasocial interaction relationships. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 31(3), 279–292. doi:  10.1080/08838158709386664
    https://doi.org/10.1080/08838158709386664 [Google Scholar]
  36. Rubin, A. M. , Perse, E. M. , & Powell, R. A.
    (1985) Loneliness, parasocial interaction, and local television news viewing. Human Communication Research, 12(2), 155–180. doi:  10.1111/j.1468‑2958.1985.tb00071.x
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.1985.tb00071.x [Google Scholar]
  37. Schramm, H. , & Wirth, W.
    (2015) Testing a universal tool for measuring parasocial interactions across different situations and media. Journal of Media Psychology, 22(1), pp.26–36. doi:  10.1027/1864‑1105/a000004
    https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000004 [Google Scholar]
  38. Silvia, P. J.
    (2005) Deflecting reactance: The role of similarity in increasing compliance and reducing resistance. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 27(3), 277–284. doi:  10.1207/s15324834basp2703_9
    https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324834basp2703_9 [Google Scholar]
  39. Simons, H. W. , Berkowitz, N. N. , & Moyer, R. J.
    (1970) Similarity, credibility, and attitude change: A review and a theory. Psychological Bulletin, 73(1), 1. doi:  10.1037/h0028429
    https://doi.org/10.1037/h0028429 [Google Scholar]
  40. Tian, Q. , & Hoffner, C. A.
    (2010) Parasocial interaction with liked, neutral, and disliked characters on a popular TV series. Mass Communication and Society, 13(3), 250–269. doi:  10.1080/15205430903296051
    https://doi.org/10.1080/15205430903296051 [Google Scholar]
  41. Tukachinsky, R.
    (2014) Experimental Manipulation of Psychological Involvement with Media. Communication Methods and Measures, 8(1), 1–33. doi:  10.1080/19312458.2013.873777
    https://doi.org/10.1080/19312458.2013.873777 [Google Scholar]
  42. Tukachinsky, R. , & Tokunaga, R. S.
    (2013) The effects of engagement with entertainment. In E. L. Cohen (Ed.), Communication yearbook 37 (pp.287–321). New York, NY: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Turner, J. R.
    (1991) Interpersonal and psychological predictors of parasocial interaction with different television performers. Communication Quarterly, 41(4), 443–453. doi:  10.1080/01463379309369904
    https://doi.org/10.1080/01463379309369904 [Google Scholar]
  44. Wilson, B. J.
    (2007) Designing media messages about health and nutrition: what strategies are most effective?Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 39(2), S13–S19. doi:  10.1016/j.jneb.2006.09.001
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2006.09.001 [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/ssol.7.1.05coh
Loading
/content/journals/10.1075/ssol.7.1.05coh
Loading

Data & Media loading...

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error