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The Three Levels of Parasocial Relationships
McCutcheon et al. (2002)*established the Celebrity Attitude Scale (CAS), identifying three levels of parasocial*relationships:
Entertainment-Social*– The least intense level, where celebrities serve only to entertain. At this level, people don't tend to have strong feelings or attachments towards the celebrity/character.
Intense-Personal*– At this*level, people develop a sense of greater personal connection with the celebrity. They might feel compelled to learn more about their life and personality, they might idolise them or start to mirror them, developing obsessive thoughts.
Borderline Pathological–*This is the most intense level, which can include obsessive fantasies and extreme behaviour. This extreme behaviour may include financial investments, such as spending a lot of money to see the person or get their*attention, or illegal behaviour, such as stalking. At this level, it is also common for the fan to believe their feelings will be reciprocated when they meet the target of their adoration.
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