Dr David Giles - Parasocial Relationships 

Dr David Giles is one of the UK’s most respected media psychologists, and his work on parasocial relationships and celebrity culture has shaped how researchers and educators understand the modern media landscape. Dr Giles is best known for his pioneering work on parasocial relationships — the one-sided psychological connections people form with media figures. His 2002 paper in Media Psychology, cited over 2,000 times, is considered foundational in defining how audiences relate emotionally and cognitively to celebrities, influencers, and fictional characters. He has developed theoretical models explaining how these relationships form, why they feel so real, and how they shape identity, behaviour, and emotional experience.

Beyond parasociality, his research spans:

• Celebrity culture and the psychology of fame — including how fame affects individuals, how audiences respond to celebrity transgressions, and how “celebrity identities” are constructed online.
• Media influence on behaviour — such as how news framing shapes public understanding of mental health, body image, and social issues.
• Online communities and digital interaction — using microanalysis to study how people construct identity, seek support, and negotiate meaning in online spaces (e.g., mental health forums, pro‑ana communities, fan groups).The psychology of music and fandom — including how fans form emotional bonds with artists and how these bonds play out on platforms like Twitter.

Across his work, Giles blends media psychology, social psychology, and qualitative methods, making him one of the UK’s leading voices on how media shapes modern psychological life.