Why Do We Get Attached to Fictional Characters?

By: Snighda Kranti, IST, Tanzania

Many people love reading. Whenever we read, it feels like we are in some whole
other world built out of fantasy. You feel attached to the characters as if you are in that place, in that time, experiencing that thing. You feel the pain, the happiness, everything they feel as if you are the main character. But it feels good. To think that you have someone to protect you or care about you.

But sometimes you might think that the characters are all fiction. They won’t
protect you in reality or care about you because they don’t exist. But you still feel
attached. Why? This attachment is referred to as a parasocial relationship. Parasocial relationships are one-sided bonds between people. They are formed when people show emotions or spend time with media figures like celebrities or fictional characters, or influencers. This is one-sided because the other figure, whoever it is, is either unaware or doesn’t exist, like the fictional characters. But then another question arises: why, when we know that they don’t exist? The answer to this is that our human brain wants to socially interact with people. When you read these books, they offer a connection without the risk of getting rejected in real-life relationships. It reduces the feeling of loneliness, which could help prevent some significant problems like depression, premature death, or some chronic diseases.

It’s scientifically proven that having this one-sided relationship reduces anxiety or stress, and it even boosts mood. You might have figured out that whenever you think about your favorite character, your mood cheers up.

However, that doesn’t mean that it just has positive impacts. It does have some
negatives, also. Relying too much on PSR (Parasocial Relationship) can prevent you from putting effort into actual friendships or romantic relationships. As PSR is a one-sided relationship, it doesn’t offer the support for well-being or mutual love like in real-life relationships, which can only increase the feeling of loneliness and distrust. It’s not only about loneliness or health problems, but it’s also about the choices you make in choosing your favorite character. Choosing a character with unhealthy ideas reflects your own thoughts or mindset, which can influence the way you think or react in real life.

While feeling connected or attached to fictional characters does bring joy and
comfort, it’s important to be mindful of the characters we choose and how much we rely on them. Even a one-sided relationship can teach us a lot about ourselves.