Date of Award
Spring 5-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Communication
First Advisor
Dr Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster
Second Advisor
Dr Jennifer Bevan
Third Advisor
Dr. Sophie Janicke-Bowles
Fourth Advisor
Paul Gulino
Abstract
This study examined how transgression frequency and severity, parasocial relationships (PSRs), and personal perceptions of celebrities influence viewers' responses to morally ambiguous characters. Utilizing a mixed between-within subjects design, the research explored their impact on moral disengagement, PSRs, character identification, and narrative enjoyment. Findings revealed that person perception of a celebrity significantly influenced all dependent variables—viewers with a favorable perception of the celebrity reported stronger PSRs, greater identification with the character, higher levels of moral disengagement, and enhanced narrative enjoyment. This outcome suggests that person perception of the celebrity should be a variable that is accounted for when researching media psychology and should not be mistaken for a parasocial relationship. Results also found that obtaining a PSR with the celebrity can indirectly result in higher moral disengagement through also obtaining a PSR with their character. This finding suggests that positive perceptions of a celebrity can provide an indirect pathway to enjoy morally ambiguous content, extending the principles of Affective Disposition Theory.
While transgression frequency negatively impacted PSRs and character identification, it did not significantly affect moral disengagement or narrative enjoyment. Participants were more likely to justify minor transgressions up to a certain PSR threshold, indicating that strong parasocial bonds with the celebrity can serve as a buffer against perceived immoral behavior.
Furthermore, the interaction between transgression severity and frequency revealed that participants were more inclined to justify repeated minor transgressions than major ones, often through mechanisms of moral disengagement. Notably, narrative enjoyment remained stable across all conditions, suggesting that viewers do not need to morally justify immoral behavior to enjoy morally ambiguous content. Together, these findings underscore the nuanced interplay between character behavior, celebrity perception, and viewer engagement in shaping moral and emotional responses to media narratives.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Downey, S. E. (2023). Till death do us part: Analyzing the impact of multiple moral violations on parasocial relationship boundary conditions [Doctoral dissertation, Chapman University]. Chapman University Digital Commons. https://doi.org/10.36837/chapman.000663