In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into the world of parasocial relationships - those emotional connections we form with celebrities, influencers, streamers, and YouTubers. We’ll explore what a parasocial relationship is, and some of the psychological motivators behind them. We’ll weigh up whether they’re beneficial to us or harmful, and take a look at two real life examples from each side of the coin. This one’s a bit meatier than usual, so I decided to start doing a few episodes every now and then called Deep Dives that go into much more detail on the chosen topic. If they prove popular, then I’ll do some more. They’re more work, but hopefully more rewarding for you, and they’re definitely a lot of fun to put together. As always, I’d love you to join the conversation. Have you ever felt a strong connection to a character in a TV series, or your favourite YouTuber? If so, what emotions did you experience and what was the impact? Share your experiences with us via our social media, or drop us a comment below. This episode is sponsored by my new book The Observing I: A Guide to Living a More Authentic Life, available now on Kindle and in paperback from Amazon Much love,David