Entertainment

Why You Feel Like You Know Your Favorite Celebrity: The Psychology of Parasocial Relationships

You've never met them. They don't know you exist. Yet you'd feel real grief if they died, real betrayal if they let you down. That's a parasocial relationship — a 70-year-old concept that explains modern fandom, influencer culture, and why your favorite YouTuber feels like a friend. Here's how it works, and when it tips from normal to unhealthy.