NO RISK, SOME REWARD? RELATIONSHIPS WITH FICTIONAL CHARACTERS BASED ON MALADAPTIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS AND GENDER INFLUENCES

Authors

Briana Rushing, Western Kentucky UniversityFollow

Publication Date

8-2025

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Rick Grieve, Ayaka Hisanaga-Probst, Robert Welsh, Michelle Durham

Degree Program

Department of Psychology

Degree Type

Master of Arts

Abstract

This research study examined the influence of maladaptive personality traits and gender on the formation and maintenance of parasocial relationships with characters from fictional literature and video games. It was hypothesized that participants who endorse clinically significant characteristics of personality disorders will be more likely to engage in parasocial interaction and relationship behaviors with fictional characters than participants with subclinical ratings. Additionally, it was hypothesized that females with clinically significant characteristics of personality disorders will be more likely to engage in parasocial relationships with book characters than males, and that males with clinically significant characteristics of personality disorders will be more likely to engage in parasocial relationships with video game characters than females. 164 participants were recruited utilizing the Department of Psychology Study Board at Western Kentucky University (WKU) and snowball sampling via Facebook. Participants completed the Celebrity-Persona Parasocial Interaction Scale and the Personality Inventory for DSM-5, Brief Form, Adult. Linear regression analyses and Chi-Square analysis were used to determine statistical significance. Results demonstrated that a higher average total score on the PID-5-BF was associated with a higher total score on the CPPI, indicating that maladaptive personality traits influence the formation and maintenance of parasocial relationships. Results provided partial support for gender influence, demonstrating that females were more likely to engage in parasocial relationships with book characters; however, results indicated that males were also more likely to engage in parasocial relationships with book characters.

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology | Personality and Social Contexts | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Psychology

Recommended Citation

Rushing, Briana, "NO RISK, SOME REWARD? RELATIONSHIPS WITH FICTIONAL CHARACTERS BASED ON MALADAPTIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS AND GENDER INFLUENCES" (2025). Masters Theses & Specialist Projects. Paper 3864.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/3864