A primary design goal of companion social robots is to increase a user's perceived level of companionship. One way to examine perceived companionship is through parasocial presence. In the scope of human-technology interactions, parasocial presence can be defined as the extent to which the technology promotes, whether as a medium or by itself, the perception of understanding, social connection, engagement, and intimacy. One specific aspect of parasocial relationships which has been explored in human-robot interaction is para-friendship, or the sense of self-disclosure and social support a person perceives in a parasocial relationship. The present research examined how the relationship between a user's personality and the perceived personality of a companion social robot influences the relationship of intimacy, understanding, enjoyability, and involvement on para-friendship. This research also investigated whether the user and robot's personalities affect para-friendship and the intention to use the robot as a social companion. Due to their designed goal of serving as social companions, understanding the relationship of a user's personality and perceived robot personality on parasocial presence, parasocial friendship, and use intention is one important link to improve Human-Robot Interaction design (HRI) and increase the marketability of social robots. Results showed that personality similarity predicted parasocial presence, but may not be as critical as perceived robot personality. Additionally, while parasocial presence predicted parasocial friendship, this effect was limited for parasocial involvement. Finally, higher feelings of parasocial presence promoted greater use intention. Implications for robot development, personality aspects of robot friendship formation, and opinions of human-robot relationships are discussed.

This quantitative study aims to understand the parasocial interaction (PSI) and parasocial relationship (PSR) between Swedish k-pop (korean popular music) fans and k-pop idols. The study also aims to understand how gender and stereotypes affect the way parasocial relationships are formed and upheld. Using a survey conducted through Google Forms, respondents (N=131) were questioned about their relationship to k-pop and their habits surrounding the topic k-pop and fandom from a gender- central perspective. The study also utilised previous studies conducted about both PSI and PSR as well as studies within gender, fandom and feminism to gain a greater understanding of the field of research. Results of the study show that most PSI takes place on social media apps such as Instagram, as well as chat and live streaming apps. Results show that most respondents are aware that the relationship they have to an idol is parasocial and that these fans continue the PSR because they want to support the idols. A smaller group of fans however identified their relationship to the idols as being real. Results of the study also show that male fans of k-pop interact with female idols to a higher degree than female fans, and that female fans interaction is more evenly distributed between both male and female k-pop idols. For future research on this topic the relationship between fan and idol could be explored further using in depth interviews, which would also improve the studys generalisation ability as well as improve the disproportionate participation between female and male participants.

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The current study aims to fill a deficiency in the literature on the effects of watching television, particularly “happy” and “not happy” shows, on social needs. Participants will first take a survey to report their loneliness and need for social interaction. Then, they will be randomly assigned into one of four television-viewing conditions (two involving the participants watching “happy” shows and two involving participants watching “not happy” shows). After viewing three episodes, participants will be re-tested on their loneliness and need for social interaction. It is hypothesized that after watching television, participants will report feeling less lonely and less likely to seek out social interaction with a larger effect for those watching happier shows than those watching less happy shows. If the study shows a reduction in loneliness and desire for social interaction after watching television, it could suggest that television is an outlet to offer those who are lonely or lacking in social support and can ease some of their discomfort and sadness.

American entertainment often presents heroines who still conform to the confining stereotypes of passivity, docility, sexual objectification, and ultimate dependence on the hero, offering patriarchal narratives in popular culture. This thesis investigates American girlhood entertainment - a subset of popular culture - in comparison to the newly popular genre of Japanese comics, shojo manga, which also targets a girl audience. By focusing on gender issues - power distribution, agency, and gender roles - and utilizing a mixed methodology of rhetorical and quantitative analysis, my research explores the rhetorical devices and narrative structures that empower or constrain heroines, structure power distributions, and assign gender roles. To better understand shojo's recent popularity among teenage girls, this research provides 1) a close critical analysis of shojo texts to examine the messages and rhetorical devices featured in these narratives, and 2) an analysis of audience reception through a participant survey and an analysis of audience-generated message boards. This research participates in Girlhood Studies, Intercultural Studies, and Narrative Criticism as I analyze narratives that target an American girl audience and enact entertainment globalization. My analysis suggests that shojo develops from feminist motives, encourages a pro-feminist reality, and successfully markets itself to an audience of American girls, who form parasocial relationships and wishfully identify with the heroines because of their empowered characteristics and the portrayal of equality within romantic relationships.

The present study examined whether the exposure to likeable characters and educational content would affect the attitudes and behaviors of children after playing an educational children's game. The parasocial interaction (PSI) experienced by children was measured between children playing an educational game with interactive characters and those children who watched videos with the same character. This study also investigated the presence of mediated scaffolding provided by the interactive character in the educational game. A three group between subjects experimental design was employed. Subjects were randomly assigned to play an educational game, watch a video, or color on a tablet for 10 minutes. They were asked a series of questions about their experience on the tablet and the interaction with the character and then offered an educational prize or non-educational prize at the end. This study found that children in both the educational game and video condition reported experiencing a PSI with the character Alpha-Pig. Additionally, it was found that when kindergarteners were exposed to the educational game and the educational video, they chose an educational reward more often than the control group. This study also found that with this particular age group and the use of tablets, there were many findings that were impacted by a ceiling effect: children in all groups scored high on the educational worksheet and showed high levels of motivation for current and future learning. These findings support past PSI research, showing that children are experiencing a PSI while interacting with a likeable character in an educational game. Additionally, this study adds to the understanding of scaffolding, extending its effects from only personal interactions to mediated interactions. Ultimately, this study helps parents and teachers to understand the importance of likeable characters in educational games for children.

Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur parasocial interaktion upplevs i form av en influencers äkthet från följarens perspektiv på Instagram, med ett fokus på betalda samarbeten. Studien undersöker hur följarna upplever influencers äkthet med hjälp av tre arbetsfrågeställningar samt huvudfrågeställningen: ‘Hur upplevs parasocial interaktion i form av en influencers äkthet i betalda samarbeten på Instagram?’. Det teoretiska ramverk som studien grundar i är framförallt Horton och Wohls teori som förklarar parasocial interaktion. Men även mindre teorier och begrepp för att kunna se studien från flera perspektiv, som electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM), marknadsföring och konsumtion. Metoden som har använts för att studera detta är en kvalitativ intervjumetod där följarna till influencerna intervjuades. Resultatet från intervjuerna transkriberades och analyserades. Studiens slutsats blev att följarna upplever en stark relation till influencerna och att de blir påverkade av att ständigt ta del av deras vardag. Vad som gör en influencer äkta är om den visar mer ofiltrerade bilder och inte bara det bästa från dennes liv.

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This thesis uses the commonly cited concepts surrounding globalization and hybridization to explore the ways in which parasocial interactions and relationships develop between American fans and K-pop groups. A qualitative content analysis of WeVerse, V Live, and YouTube comments has been conducted to get in-depth knowledge of the ways that fans interact with their idols. From various postings on these sites, 50 English-language comments were sampled from each. These public posts showed the varying intensity of fan interactions with idols over social media. Reactions were most present in video livestreams and official K-pop account posts relating to promotional activities and idol birthdays. Many posts show a collection of fan infatuation and longing for some real-world relationship, be it friendly or more intimate. From this, it can be concluded that parasocial relationships are better developed through interactions over social media sites, which has only become a viable option in the last decade. Furthermore, globalization and hybridization are catalysts for new cultural phenomenon like K-pop to emerge in the American mainstream. While globalization has been pushed forward by the expansion of the internet, hybridization has solidified its place as a joining of cultures from different countries. In the area of K-pop, this is seen by the combination of English being mixed in with Korean lyrics to create a catchy chorus or the use of instrumentation reminiscent of American pop and hip-hop and rap. / Media Studies & Production