Cohen, J. (in press). Mediated Relationships and Social Life: Current Research on Fandom, Parasocial Relationships, and Identification. In Oliver, M. B., & Raney, A. A.(eds.). Media and the social life (working title). New York: Routledge.

Abstract:

This chapter examines the role that media characters play in everyday lives. The chapter describes various reactions that media audiences have to media characters and the various types of relationships they form with characters: Fandom, parasocial relationships and identification. A survey of recent research is presented on the factors that enhance such relationships, including recent research on digital media and social media, as well as some of major consequences researchers have identified.