The Parasocial Contact Hypothesis

@article{Schiappa2005ThePC,
  title={The Parasocial Contact Hypothesis},
  author={Edward Schiappa and Peter B Gregg and Dean E. Hewes},
  journal={Communication Monographs},
  year={2005},
  volume={72},
  pages={115 - 92}
}
We propose a communication analogue to Allport's (1954) Contact Hypothesis called the Parasocial Contact Hypothesis (PCH). If people process mass-mediated parasocial interaction in a manner similar to interpersonal interaction, then the socially beneficial functions of intergroup contact may result from parasocial contact. We describe and test the PCH with respect to majority group members' level of prejudice in three studies, two involving parasocial contact with gay men (Six Feet Under and… Expand
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Parasocial Contact's Effects on Relations Between Minority Groups in a Multiracial Context
We introduce and examine the effects of parasocial contact between out-groups—or contact that occurs when someone observes a media portrayal of contact between members of two out-groups. Our study… Expand
Contact Theory: Extended and Parasocial
Based on Gordon Allport's contact theory, several bodies of research have emerged to suggest that prejudice reduction can be achieved through indirect forms of cross-group contact, including… Expand
Parasocial Interaction as More Than Friendship
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This study supports the refinement of the concept of parasocial interaction (PSI) to apply to mediated personae that viewers might dislike by revealing that participants did experience PSI with disliked characters as well as liked characters, and that the two measures of PSI did not appear to assess the same construct. Expand
The Development and Influence of Parasocial Relationships With Television Characters: A Longitudinal Experimental Test of Prejudice Reduction Through Parasocial Contact
The current study investigates parasocial relationships as the underlying mechanism explaining prejudice reduction following extended exposure to mediated outgroups. Heterosexual participants viewed… Expand
Intergroup Contact: An Integration of Social Psychological and Communication Perspectives
This chapter examines the literature on intergroup contact from a communication perspective. The basic idea of intergroup contact theory—that contact between groups reduces prejudice—is presented.… Expand
Parasocial and parasocial vicarious contact effects on euro Canadians’ views of aboriginal peoples
Research on indirect contact suggests that actual contact with a group may not be necessary to promote positive intergroup attitudes. The ingroup, or group with which one identifies, may have more… Expand
Meta-Analysis on Mediated Contact and Prejudice
This paper presents a meta-analysis of 79 cases (N = 21,857) testing the effectiveness of mediated intergroup contact on prejudice. Positive mediated contact decreased (r = −.23; 95% CI, −.29 to… Expand
Digital destigmatization: How exposure to networking profiles can reduce social stereotypes
TLDR
This study investigates the effects of passive intergroup contact via social networking services for three distinct stigmatized groups (people with physical disabilities, schizophrenia, and transgender individuals) and indicates a small improvement of outgroup-related attitudes after inter group contact. Expand
Attitudes toward Muslims: a test of the parasocial contact hypothesis and contact theory
Abstract The present research relied on intergroup theory to explain attitudes toward Muslim Americans. In particular, the parasocial contact hypothesis was relied on to develop a set of hypotheses… Expand
Assessing Parasocial Interactions and Relationships in Real Time
Parasocial interaction and parasocial relationships refer to the connections people form with media characters, particularly through watching television. Transportation is a term used to explain… Expand
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References

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TLDR
Examination of the relationships among number and intimacy of gay social contacts, parasocial interaction, viewing frequency of Will & Grace, and scores on Herek's Attitudes Toward Gay Men and Lesbians scale found increased viewing frequency and parasocial contact were found to correlate with lower levels of sexual prejudice. Expand
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