In America, socializing with friends has become a functional alternative to watching television. Such a drastic change in how we spend free time demands a closer look at media effects. The study at hand invokes intrapersonal communication research and parasocial interactions and relationships from the media effects literature, synthesizing a new line of research in the process. We ask, "What functions and characteristics of parasociability predict parasocial compensation for real-life interaction?" To explore this question, we combined data based on respondent identification numbers from two larger surveys that measured functions and characteristics of parasocial. An ordinary least squares regression with compensation as the focal variable revealed that parasocial thinking, when functioning as internal rehearsal and self-understanding, and when characterized by variety and selfdominance, predicts parasociability as compensation for human interaction. Retroactive parasocial thinking negatively predicted compensation. The bottom line is this: Under certain circumstances, people choose parasocial relationships

In today's rapidly changing "TV everywhere" environment of ubiquitous and alwaysconnected screens, and instant social media interaction around and with complex and compelling television storylines and characters, perhaps it is time to take another look at media effects from a more social perspective. In this study, we provide that social perspective by examining imagined interactions, parasocial interactions (PSIs), and parasocial relationships (PSRs) as manifestations of intrapersonal communication. In the past decade, parasocial phenomena have become a hot topic in entertainment studies; yet, few researchers have worked to establish a strong theoretical foundation for this phenomenon. This study provides significant contributions to the literature by exploring and describing the attributes of imaginative processes revolving around parasocial contact with mediated personae. Specifically, we borrow from imagined interaction theory and identify the most salient relationships among attributes of the PSRs and PSIs with television personae that take place in our imaginations. We also isolate the attributes of PSRs with the greatest power to predict the frequency with which one imagines interacting with a television persona: retroactivity and variety.

A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics study reported Americans spend more time watching television than engaging in interpersonal activities. At the same time, television content is increasing in both complexity and quality, and important questions are emerging. With viewers spending increased time with television content through omnipresent screens and always-on mobile devices, and with the content becoming more compelling, are media effects changing? This study takes a fresh look at the deep relationships audiences have with today's complex television characters and the ultimate effects of those relationships by exploring parasocial interactions and relationships from an intrapersonal perspective. In this survey, we found compelling evidence that viewers use parasocial relationships to maintain relationships with television characters, keep conflict alive, undergo catharsis, and develop a better understanding of themselves and their viewpoints.

Floods are among the most frequent and devastating natural hazards and disasters in many southern states in the United States. This study examined the relationship and reciprocal predictability between two theoretical constructs—risk perception attitude (RPA) and information-seeking efficacy (ISE)—in regard to pluvial floods. In addition, this study extended these theoretical constructs to investigate differences in RPA and ISE among potential audience segments, providing practitioners with applicable insights for designing effective flood prevention and risk management campaigns. Analysis of data from 716 residents in south Louisiana revealed a statistically strong relationship between RPA and ISE. This research also identified specific audience segments that would benefit from an increase in RPA and ISE concerning floods. These meaningful findings inform a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of the relationship between RPA and ISE and guide future disaster preparation campaigns and policies.

This study looks at partisan voting in light of imagined interactions (IIs). Imagined interactions are a form of daydreaming that allows us to build scripts for use in our interpersonal relationships. II research has generally come from a functionalist perspective, and continues to prove its value in counseling and therapy, as well as to help us to understand intrapersonal communication in general. It has recently been extended into media effects research (i.e., Madison & Porter, 2012, 2014) and with the present study, voting intentions. We ask how respondents who claim to vote for candidates from certain political parties differ from those who do not in terms of the functions of their IIs. We surveyed college students at a prominent southern university (N = 227) and collected data on voting intentions and functions of the respondent IIs. We found that both Republicans and Democrats tend to have fewer self-understanding and rehearsal IIs than those who indicated preference for independent candidates. These findings suggest that voting along party lines may be a heuristic, or “mindless” behavior. This study provides a new and exciting element to both the II and political processing bodies of literature, and it is our hope that future researchers also consider II in studies of political psychology and voting.