Category Encyclopedia Chapter

Chapter: Parasocial Theory: Concepts and Measures

Encyclopedia Chapter

by Gayle S. Stever, March 2017

The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects

Parasocial interaction (PSI) describes nonreciprocated audience interactions with media personae. These interactions are, in many ways, like face-to-face interactions with the caveat that the response normally expected from a social partner is missing. Parasocial theory describes and attempts to explain imagined social relationships and interactions with people who are distant from us and who do not reciprocate individual communication or interest...

Read More

Chapter: Sage Encyclopedia of Psychology and Gender

Encyclopedia Chapter

by Gayle S. Stever, January 2017

Media has had an enormous impact on how gender and gender roles are perceived culturally. Media is generally understood to be a form of communication that is less direct than face-to-face communication, including a number of different media forms that influence and have been influenced by gender roles. These include, but are not limited to, television, advertising, animated media forms, video games, and books.

Read More