不想只是朋友：名人粉絲的擬親屬關係之研究

Being the financial backers of the entertainment industry, fans play a critical role towards the success of idols, making it necessary for entertainment companies to better understand fan behavior and cater towards fans’ desires while setting boundaries. A plethora of studies on fans surround parasocial relationships; however, studies of a newly defined celebrity-fan relationship, parakin relationships, have begun to emerge and have yet to be explored in depth. With scant research focused on parakin relationships, this research attempts to identify differences between parasocial and parakin behaviors from a friendship and kinship standpoint while providing quantitative evidence. In addition, differences in relation to parasocial breakups are so measured. Study 1 identifies behaviors unique to parasocial and parakin relationships and partially supports H1 in which fans in parasocial relationships are more likely to exhibit cordial behaviors, while fans in parakin relationships are more likely to engage in protective behaviors. On the other hand, study 2 investigates how fans of the two types of relationships will react to a parasocial breakup. Results support H2a showing that fans in parakin relationships are more likely to experience parasocial breakup with their favorite celebrity. Fans are also more prone to experience parasocial breakup when their favorite celebrity is paired with someone perceived to have a negative influence on the celebrity’s image, supporting H2b. This research theoretically contributes to parakin literature from a kinship perspective and investigates the intensity of parasocial breakup for parakin relationships in comparison to those of parasocial relationships. Managerially, this study contributes by encouraging entertainment companies to understand fan behavior to satisfy fans while protecting their artists. However, limitations are present, suggesting further studies to explore parakin relationships in other fan communities apart from Korean pop music, as well as explore the point in which a fan shifts from a parasocial relationship to a parakin relationship. Future research of parakin relationships can also include a celebrity’s perspective as to how celebrities feel about these fans’ behaviors.

並列關鍵字

celebrity-fan relationships ； parakin relationships ； parasocial relationships ； parasocial breakup

參考文獻

Abanes, M. (2021). IZ*ONE fans raise US$2million in hopes of keeping the group from disbanding. Retrieved from https://www.nme.com/news/music/izone-fans-raise-usd-2million-keep-group-from-disbanding-2925607

Google Scholar

Alexander, M. J., Higgins, E. T. (1993). Emotional trade-offs of becoming a parent: How social roles influence self-discrepancy effects. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65(6), 1259.